Visit characteristics of 217 children attending a chiropractic college teaching clinic.

The visit characteristics of 217 children attending a chiropractic teaching clinic are described. Forty-two percent suffered from musculoskeletal complaints, 20% from nonmusculoskeletal complaints and 33% attended the clinic for general physical examination. Patients who were members of the immediate family of a student intern were more likely to attend the clinic for general physical examination or for nonmusculoskeletal complaints. Previous experience with chiropractic was unrelated to the type of complaint, and, among children who had sought previous care for their presenting complaint from some other source, they were as likely to have seen a chiropractor as a medical doctor, regardless of the nature of their complaint. The study concludes that the characteristics of this patient group may be unique to the teaching clinic, reflecting a system in which friends and family are often recruited as patients. These patients might be more likely to view chiropractic care as a primary health care service.