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FCER News Release

For Immediate Release: August 22, 2003

Contact: Robin R. Merrifield

1304 Perry Ave., Bremerton WA 98310

Phone: 800-343-0549 or 360-471-7837

Fax: 360-478-0834 • E-mail: FCERedit@aol.com

Norwalk, Iowa—The July/August 2003 issue of Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics contains a study comparing literature search results for "spinal palpation" in both PubMed/MEDLINE and MANTIS. The authors found that "PubMed yielded 19, while MANTIS (Manual, Alternative and Natural Therapy Index System), a manual therapy database, yielded 35 citations. Twenty-six of the 49 online citations were repeatedly indexed in 3 or more databases. Content experts and selective manual searches identified 11 additional studies. In all, we identified 60 studies that addressed the research question. The cost of the databases used for conducting this search ranged from free-of-charge to $43,000 per year for a single network subscription." [emphasis added]

This study is "profound, to say the least," said FCER’s Director of Research Anthony L. Rosner, Ph.D. "It basically indicates that almost twice as many articles can be retrieved from MANTIS as compared to MEDLINE for this research topic, which is probably a typical experience. In terms of subscribing to MANTIS either through FCER membership or otherwise, it essentially says that you may very well miss the boat if you rely on MEDLINE instead of MANTIS for chiropractic research topics."

This study reiterates what the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) has long stated—MANTIS is a valuable tool for chiropractic doctors, faculty, students, and researchers. What many may not realize is that membership in FCER, which only costs $154/year, allows doctors FREE unlimited access to the MANTIS database. MANTIS (formerly known as Chirolars) is the largest index of chiropractic literature in existence. Normally it is available by subscription only at an annual cost of $159, but now FCER Members can access it over the Internet FREE. This benefit alone more than doubles the value of General Membership in FCER, since you may become a General Member of FCER for only $154 per year.¹

Some of the many benefits of including contemporary research findings in the practice of chiropractic are the ability to:

• Maintain state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment skills

• Have a thorough reference for difficult cases

• Facilitate patient education

• Provide support for diagnostic and treatment procedures to ensure third-party payment

• Provide support for medical/legal issues including expert testimony and legal narrative reports

• Stay current with risk management and avoid malpractice

• Provide information to help develop inter-professional managed care relationships

With the increased emphasis on "evidence-based" medicine, all health care providers are being asked to support their procedures or risk legal and financial repercussions.

FCER, founded in 1944, is the oldest and most respected chiropractic research-funding institution in the world. Since 1980, FCER has funded grants, fellowships, and residencies totaling nearly $10 million. FCER has provided chiropractic advocates with the research-based ammunition that has brought about positive change. Without the high caliber cost-effectiveness, efficacy, and patient satisfaction studies funded by FCER, the ongoing battle to secure chiropractic’s rightful place in the health care system would be doomed to failure.

For more information on FCER membership levels, benefits, or use of MANTIS, please go to http://www.fcer.org/html/membership.htm.

¹Rate for U.S. doctors; Canadian and other International Rates slightly higher.

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