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Ruth P. Hertzman-Miller, MD, MPH, Hal Morgenstern, PhD, Eric L. Hurwitz, DC, PhD, Fei Yu, PhD, Alan H. Adams, DC, MS, Philip Harber, MD, MPH and Gerald F. Kominski, PhD

At the time of the study, R. P. Hertzman-Miller was with the Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Public Health and the Robert Wood Johnson/Veterans Affairs Clinical Scholars Program, Department of Medicine, UCLA Medical Center. H. Morgenstern, E. L. Hurwitz, and F. Yu are with the Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health. H. Morgenstern, E. L. Hurwitz, and A. H. Adams are with the Southern California University of Health Sciences, Whittier, Calif. P. Harber is with the Department of Family Medicine/Occupational and Environmental Medicine, UCLA Medical Center. G. F. Kominski is with the Department of Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Ruth Hertzman-Miller, MD, MPH, 18A Troy La, Waban, MA 02468 (e-mail: hertzman_miller{at}post.harvard.edu).

Objectives. This study examined the difference in satisfaction between patients assigned to chiropractic vs medical care for treatment of low back pain in a managed care organization.

Methods. Satisfaction scores (on a 10–50 scale) after 4 weeks of follow-up were compared among 672 patients randomized to receive medical or chiropractic care.

Results. The mean satisfaction score for chiropractic patients was greater than the score for medical patients (crude difference = 5.5; 95% confidence interval = 4.5, 6.5). Self-care advice and explanation of treatment predicted satisfaction and reduced the estimated difference between chiropractic and medical patients’ satisfaction.

Conclusions. Communication of advice and information to patients with low back pain increases their satisfaction with providers and accounts for much of the difference between chiropractic and medical patients’ satisfaction.

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