In order to protect the health and safety of the public by ensuring high standards of practice in the chiropractic profession, we need to listen to and understand the views of patients, the public and registrants. We draw upon these views to make policy and decisions based on the best available evidence.
Registrant Survey 2020
In October 2020, we commissioned a national survey to explore the views of registrants across a range of different areas including qualifications, job satisfaction, clinical practice and the future of the profession. In total, 968 registrants completed the survey.
A series of in-depth interviews was also undertaken following the survey to understand registrants’ perceptions, experiences, and opinions in greater detail.
The research is part of the GCC’s commitment to using evidence and insight to support registrants in their day-to-day work delivering high quality patient care as well as guiding our work as a regulator.
View the full Registrant Survey report: Registrant Survey (2020)
View the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion report: Registrant Survey (2020) - EDI report
View the Registrant Survey infographic: Registrant Survey Infographic
Past Research
(Executive summary) How is touch communicated in the context of manual therapy? A literature review
How is touch communicated in the context of manual therapy? A literature review
Patients are at the centre of everything that we do. This is why we work closely with our Patient Community panel to regularly gather their views and perspectives on a wide range of topics. You can read more about how the Patient Community is informing our work in the research reports here.
Factors contributing to chiropractic patient satisfaction
This report is the second part of a two-stage GCC research project to better understand chiropractic patient experience and satisfaction nationally and internationally. Co-authors, Professor Dave Newell and Dr Michelle Holmes spoke to patients across the UK and compared their experience to the findings of a literature study.
Patient Experience and satisfaction during chiropractic care
The report is the first part of a two-stage GCC research project to better understand chiropractic patient experience and satisfaction nationally and internationally. Co-authors, Professor Dave Newell and Dr Michelle Holmes initially identified over 3,000 documents, refining the search to 43 research articles that fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria as based on a preregistered review protocol (Prospero ID: CRD42020203251).
View the full report, here.
Public perceptions research
In October 2020 we commissioned a national survey of over 1,000 members of the UK public to explore public perceptions and awareness of chiropractic services. The experiences of 243 patients who have visited a chiropractor for treatment were also surveyed. The findings provide many valuable and useful insights that will support registrants in their day-to-day work delivering high quality patient care and help guide our work as a regulator.
View the full report: Public Perceptions Research report (February 2021)
Past Research
Patients' Experiences and Expectations of Chiropractic Care (2015)
Research into Patients Views and Expectations of Chiropractic Care (2012)
Awareness and perceptions of chiropractors, Ipsos MORI (2009)
The General Chiropractic Council regulates chiropractors in the UK, Isle of Man and Gibraltar to ensure the safety of patients undergoing chiropractic treatment.
Find out MoreIn this section you can find more about how we work, including information about our structure, governance and how we remain accountable. We also outline how patients and partners can support our work
Find out MoreThis section includes publications for chiropractors, as well as newsletters, corporate reports and research.
Find out MoreThis section includes documents summarising the internal procedures and protocols that we use.
Find out More