Quality-of-life attributes of chiropractic students that are significantly associated with students' sense of coherence: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize chiropractic students, assess their sense of coherence (SOC) and QOL and determine what items of QOL measures were associated with the subdomains of SOC. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed students on their sociodemographic information, student characteristics, and intended practice characteristics. In addition, we measured their SOC using the SOC-29 and QOL using the PROMIS-29 and PROMIS Global Health instruments. Elastic net regression identified items from the PROMIS-29 and PROMIS Global Health surveys that were associated with the subdomains (ie, comprehensibility, manageability, and meaning) of SOC. RESULTS: With a response rate of 32.2%, 113 students composed our study population. The mean (SD) SOC-29 score was 148.5 (21.09) with global physical and mental health T-scores of 52.3 (7.24) and 51.0 (8.96), respectively. The mean (SD) T-scores for the QOL domains as measured by the PROMIS-29 were physical function = 54.7 (5.21), anxiety = 54.7 (8.94), depression = 49.0 (8.38), fatigue = 50.0 (9.88), sleep disturbance = 48.4 (8.20), ability to participate in social roles and activities = 54.9 (8.28), pain interference = 47.3 (7.85), and pain intensity = 1.6 (1.74). Items associated with the mental health domains had the strongest association with comprehensibility. Items in physical health and social health were most strongly associated with manageability and meaningfulness, respectively. CONCLUSION: The SOC and QOL of chiropractic students were assessed at 1 institution. Items from the PROMIS-29 and PROMIS Global Health strongly associated with SOC and its subdomains were identified.