The use of validated outcome measures in the chiropractic care of pregnant patients: A systematic review of the literature

• There is limited, inconsistent use and questionable appropriateness of valid outcome measures in pregnancy care.
• Utilized outcome measures demonstrate clinical effectiveness of chiropractic care.
• Strengths of outcome measures include their availability, ease of use and ability to detect clinically meaningful change.

BackgroundHealthcare systems recognize the need to incorporate patient-reported outcomes as part of their clinical and research measures. We performed this review on the use of validated outcome measures in the chiropractic care of pregnant patients.MethodsPubmed, CINAHL, Medline, Index to Chiropractic Literature and MANTIS were searched for (1) primary investigation reports (i.e., case reports, case series, case control, randomized controlled trials and survey or surveillance studies) published in English; (2) involving the care of pregnant patient(s) and (3) utilizing a valid outcome measure.ResultsOur review found 8 articles using the Patient's Global Impression of Change, the NRS, the Oswestry, Bournemouth, Fear Avoidance Belief and Quebec Disability questionnaires, PROMIS-29 and the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile.ConclusionDespite their heterogeneity and inconsistency of use in the studies reviewed, our findings demonstrate some measure of effectiveness in the chiropractic care of pregnant patients.