| Jan. 2004 Update of Research
Activities
Introduction
Hello everyone for the first time in 2004. I
hope that you all enjoyed the holiday period and the festive
season was good to you.
This document will summarize the activities
of the last six months or so in the area of research and course
development. It is my belief that 2003 will go down as a significant
period in the development and implementation of NET. The background
work that has gone into setting up the research effort by
people such as Drs Monti, Bablis, Walker and Pollard will
in the next year bear significant fruit. This work will provide
a springboard to other projects and further the credibility
and acceptance of NET methods by practitioners the world over.
The following paragraphs will outline some of
the activities of the Research Committee (Bablis (Chair),
Walker & Pollard) undertaken in the recent past.
Regular meetings have been taken by the members
of the group via face to face meetings (Pollard & Bablis)
and email and telephone (all members). The communication is
effective and frequent. Discussion is frank and helpful. Activity
and resultant productivity has been high. The following report
will outline the activities of the recent past.
Publications
This year should be a watershed year for publication
at ONERF. After much preparation, two manuscripts have been
accepted, several additional manuscripts have recently been
completed and sent for peer review, and several other projects
are in the very final stages of preparation. They will add
to the list in the near future. In addition, the background
science on NET is beginning to form and will be the subject
of further publication at a later time.
This information will be very important as the
results of the clinical trials begin to be collected and written
up for publication. When that occurs over the next 1-2 years
several additional papers will likely result from each trial.
As several publications will have been secured by that time,
the published works will then be referred to in the results
of the randomised trials. This reporting of earlier works
will then serve to demonstrate a lineage of scientific activity
that is consistent with the best approaches in science. Once
the foundation is laid it can be built upon by further works
later, and so will grow the scientific and practitioner acceptance
of NET. The list of current manuscripts is listed below.
Manuscripts
- Pollard H, Lakay B , Frances Tucker F, Watson
B , Bablis P
Interexaminer reliability of the deltoid and psoas muscle
test.
Accepted: Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics
- Hypothyroidism: A new model for Conservative
Management in two cases
Bablis P, Pollard H
Accepted: Chiropractic Journal of Australia.
- Practitoner perceptions of emotions associated
with pain: A survey
Walker S, Bablis P, Pollard H, McHardy A
Submitted: Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics
- Reflections on the "type O" disorder.
Pollard H
Submitted: Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics
- Emotional disturbance in new patients presenting
to chiropractors: A pilot study.
Pollard H*, Bablis P , Eastwood S, Dillon N, Griffiths A
Submitted in revised form: Journal of Manipulative &
Physiological Therapeutics
- A mind-body treatment for hypothyroid dysfunction:
a report of two cases.
Pollard H, Bablis P
Submitted in revised form: Journal of Manipulative &
Physiological Therapeutics
- The somatovisceral reflex: How important
for the “type O” condition?
Pollard H
Submitted: Chiropractic Journal of Australia
- Are chronic low back pain outcomes improved
with co-management of concurrent depression?
Middleton P, Pollard H
Soon to be submitted to: Australasian Chiropractic &
Osteopathy.
It should be noted that there is no guarantee
that any of the submitted papers will actually be accepted
by the journals. All journals are peer reviewed and very competitive
to get into. It is also noteworthy that the process of publication
is a SLOW one. The average manuscript will take at least six
months to be reviewed and then up to 14 months to appear in
print once accepted…….
NB: A type “O” disorder is a
visceral complaint. A musculoskeletal complaint is sometimes
referred to as a type “M” disorder. This terminology
was first used in the New Zealand Royal Commission into Chiropractic
in 1979.
Research Projects
This year should see the start of an exciting
phase for ONERF. We were able to receive Ethics approval for
the commencement of three research projects . These projects
will begin sometime in March this year.
The research projects are:
i. Randomised controlled trial of chiropractic
(NET) for neck pain.
ii. Inter examiner reliability study of the
ileo-cecal valve point in low back pain patients.
All three projects will involve the talents
of Peter Bablis, Rod Bonello and Henry Pollard.
An MSC student will research NET at Macquarie.
Later this year we will be submitting an additional
project to Ethics for approval. The project will be called
“A Randomised controlled trial of chiropractic (NET)
for hypothyroidism”. It will be conducted by Dr Ben
Brown as a requirement for a MSc degree under the supervision
of Prof Bonello and Dr Pollard and follows from the earlier
work of Bablis & Pollard.
The Phone Survey
Dr Walker came up with the idea to investigate
the utilization of NET and practitioner knowledge of the effect
of emotion in chiropractic practice. To this effect, Drs Walker,
Bablis, Pollard & McHardy conducted a survey of over 1000
randomly assigned practitioners (half in the US and half in
Aust) to determine the responses to six targeted questions
on this topic. The results were analyzed and submitted to
JMPT for publication. No word has been received on this manuscript
to date.
The Cancer Study
In addition to the above, Dr Dan Monti has been
hitting a few goals with his project: Desensitising distressing
recollections in cancer patients. This project was funded
by ONERF as a pilot and achieved excellent (and soon to be
published) results. The seed funding has allowed Dr Monti
to submit a larger grant to the NIH for a much larger study.
It is fair to say that his project has attracted a lot of
positive attention from the medical fraternity. I am sure
that I speak on behalf of everyone at ONERF when we wish you
good luck on the grant Dr Monti.
Macquarie University Research projects
As you have read above, much is happening at
Macquarie. Despite the occasional difficulty in getting these
projects through the Ethics Committee, all that have been
submitted have now been approved to commence. This was a significant
victory for us. It has been a challenge trying to educate
some members of staff as to the merits of NET and the research
we are trying to undertake. I am happy to say that we are
making progress and our research efforts will move forward
this year.
Director of Research
Dr Henry Pollard has recently been voted Director
of Research in the Dept of Health & Chiropractic at Macquarie
University. He will replace the outgoing Director, Dr Subra
Vemulpad. We thank Dr Vemulpad for his efforts whilst at the
helm of research in the Department.
NET course at Macquarie
The Department will be restructuring its technique
programs in 2004-5, after some add-hoc changes in 2003. An
opportunity exists for NET to be included in a revamped technique
program in 2005-6.
I wish to acknowledge the fine effort of Dr Alison Griffiths,
a twenty-year veteran of teaching at Macquarie. Dr Griffiths
is an experienced technique lecturer and NET practitioner
who assembled a new course outline with the assistance of
Drs Bablis, Walker and Pollard. The course outline has already
been presented to the Department for consideration and will
receive scrutiny in various stages throughout this and next
year. A process that is standard for any new course at the
University.
Dr Griffiths has suggested that it is unlikely
that any changes will be made to the technique program for
2004, but that opportunity exists for change in 2005 or 2006.
To this end, her team has constructed a proposal for the Department
to consider. The proposal outlines a complete introductory
NET course including outline, synopsis and personnel and teaching
materials. It includes the use of local certified NET practitioners
to assist in the teaching as well as support from ONERF and
NET Inc. for materials to support the course. I am sure that
under the wise guidance of Dr Griffiths that this course will
become a permanent addition to the curriculum in 2005 or 2006.
It is an exciting first step that is being very carefully
considered and implemented. As with all such proposals, success
is not guaranteed, but we will all be working very hard to
have NET in the curriculum of SEVERAL universities soon.
This development comes after the work of Dr
Monti in presenting NET to an American University earlier
the previous year.
Summary
ONERF is on track to achieve significant momentum
this year. Publications, research and a potential new course
will form a vanguard that will act as a template for implementation
into other venues around the world. We are trailblazing a
new way, a way that will set standards for others to follow
whilst establishing NET as core technique for practitioners
of all persuasions.
Regards,Dr Henry Pollard
Director Research ONERF
On behalf of the Research Committee
(Drs Walker and Bablis)
Stop the press……
Exciting new developments have occurred
in May 2004.
These will be updated at Eagles 2004. |
