The profile of older adults seeking chiropractic care: a secondary analysis

doi:10.1186/s12877-021-02218-6

Table 3
Patient encounter characteristics for total combined adult encounter sample, for patients aged ≥65 and < 65 years at the encounter level
Total encounters
(n = 6781) Encounters with ≥65 years patients
(n = 1067) Encounters with < 65 years patients
(n = 5714) Comparison* between
≥65 years and < 65 years
Source
COAST 3842 (56.7%) 491 (46.0%) 3351 (58.7%)2 χ² = 11.9 df = 1 p = 0.0006
O-COAST 2939 (43.3%) 576 (54.0%) ,363 (41.4%)
Duration of Encounter (minutes)
Mean (Range; SD; Median) 17.6 (0–120; 11.2) 18.0 (1–120; 11.2) 17.5 (0–120; 11.2) t = 0.83 df = 90 p = 0.41
Imaging ordered/done at encounter
X-ray spine 196 (2.9%) 38 (3.6%) 158 (2.8%) χ² = 0.55 df = 1 p = 0.46
X-ray other 19 (0.3%) 3 (0.3%) 16 (0.3%) χ² = 0.0 df = 1 p = 0.99
MRI 19 (0.3%) 1 (0.1%) 18 (0.3%) χ² = 2.12 df = 1 p = 0.15
CT Scan 14 (0.2%) 2 (0.2%) 12 (0.2%) χ² = 0.01 df = 1 p = 0.91
Ultrasound 7 (0.1%) 1 (0.1%) 6 (0.1%) χ² = 0.01 df = 1 p = 0.92
Source of payment
Workers’ Comp 115 (1.8%) 7 (0.7%) 108 (2.0%) χ² = 8.09 df = 1 p = 0.0045
Auto Insurance 102 (1.6%) 10 (1.0%) 92 (1.7%) χ² = 0.66 df = 1 p = 0.42
Veterans’ Affairs 46 (0.7%) 24 (2.3%) 22 (0.4%) χ² = 29.81 df = 1 p < 0.0001
Medicare 82 (2.2%) 28 (6.0%) 54 (1.7%) χ² = 43.88 df = 1 p < 0.0001
Private Insurance 2687 (40.8%) 314 (30.4%) 2373 (42.8%) χ² = 18.11 df = 1 p < 0.0001
Patient 5080 (77.2%) 813 (78.7%) 4267 (76.9%) χ² = 0.52 df = 1 p = 0.47
No Charge 229 (3.5%) 32 (3.1%) 197 (3.6%) χ² = 0.20 df = 1 p = 0.66
Other Charge 6 (0.6%) 6 (0.6%) 39 (0.7%) χ² = 0.32 df = 1 p = 0.57

*Pearson χ2 test for categorical variables, t-test for means, all accounting for clustering within primary sampling unit of chiropractor

	Total encounters (n = 6781)	Encounters with ≥65 years patients (n = 1067)	Encounters with < 65 years patients (n = 5714)	Comparison* between ≥65 years and < 65 years
Source
COAST	3842 (56.7%)	491 (46.0%)	3351 (58.7%)2	χ² = 11.9 df = 1 p = 0.0006
O-COAST	2939 (43.3%)	576 (54.0%)	,363 (41.4%)
Duration of Encounter (minutes)
Mean (Range; SD; Median)	17.6 (0–120; 11.2)	18.0 (1–120; 11.2)	17.5 (0–120; 11.2)	t = 0.83 df = 90 p = 0.41
Imaging ordered/done at encounter
X-ray spine	196 (2.9%)	38 (3.6%)	158 (2.8%)	χ² = 0.55 df = 1 p = 0.46
X-ray other	19 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	16 (0.3%)	χ² = 0.0 df = 1 p = 0.99
MRI	19 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	18 (0.3%)	χ² = 2.12 df = 1 p = 0.15
CT Scan	14 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	12 (0.2%)	χ² = 0.01 df = 1 p = 0.91
Ultrasound	7 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	6 (0.1%)	χ² = 0.01 df = 1 p = 0.92
Source of payment
Workers’ Comp	115 (1.8%)	7 (0.7%)	108 (2.0%)	χ² = 8.09 df = 1 p = 0.0045
Auto Insurance	102 (1.6%)	10 (1.0%)	92 (1.7%)	χ² = 0.66 df = 1 p = 0.42
Veterans’ Affairs	46 (0.7%)	24 (2.3%)	22 (0.4%)	χ² = 29.81 df = 1 p < 0.0001
Medicare	82 (2.2%)	28 (6.0%)	54 (1.7%)	χ² = 43.88 df = 1 p < 0.0001
Private Insurance	2687 (40.8%)	314 (30.4%)	2373 (42.8%)	χ² = 18.11 df = 1 p < 0.0001
Patient	5080 (77.2%)	813 (78.7%)	4267 (76.9%)	χ² = 0.52 df = 1 p = 0.47
No Charge	229 (3.5%)	32 (3.1%)	197 (3.6%)	χ² = 0.20 df = 1 p = 0.66
Other Charge	6 (0.6%)	6 (0.6%)	39 (0.7%)	χ² = 0.32 df = 1 p = 0.57