Research

Focus of research program

The primary focus of our research program has been to perform original, high quality clinical research, generating new knowledge about the treatment of the prevalent and costly musculoskeletal pain conditions. Our current research leverages existing datasets to answer clinically important questions:

  • Who uses chiropractic care, and how are they different from non-users?
  • Are x-ray findings associated with improvement (or lack thereof) among older adults receiving chiropractic spinal manipulation?

Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies

NWHSU’s Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies investigates the effects of non-surgical treatments for common musculoskeletal conditions, like back pain, neck pain and headache, in patients of all ages.

Our work often combines quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a richer, more comprehensive understanding of the populations we serve. We emphasize patient-oriented outcomes – the results that patients care about most. These include minimizing pain, reducing disability, and increasing satisfaction with care.

Past clinical trials

Qualitative research

NWHSU also conducts qualitative research which goes beyond numbers and statistics to explore people’s perceptions, emotions and behaviors.

An important part of our research program is to gain an understanding of what it is like to live with pain, why patients seek care, and what makes a treatment worthwhile. Such questions are best addressed with qualitative research, which explores people’s perceptions, emotions and behaviors using interview and focus group techniques.

Qualitative research studies