Abstract
The integration of business education in chiropractic training is crucial for graduates to
effectively manage their practices. At the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa
(SA), one of two South African institutions offering a chiropractic program inclusive of
business education, there is limited knowledge about students’ preparedness for
entrepreneurship post-graduation.
This study evaluates the impact of the Practice Management and Jurisprudence Module
(PMJ) on UJ chiropractic students' business knowledge and their preparedness to
manage a practice upon completion of their studies. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey
was conducted using an adapted online questionnaire. Second-year Master of Health
Science in Chiropractic students and recent UJ graduates within five years of practice
were invited to participate. The questionnaire, distributed via email lists and WhatsApp,
comprised 19 items across four sections.
Out of 201 potential participants, 88 responded (43.7% response rate). Students and new
practitioners reported insufficient knowledge in critical business areas such as
accounting, marketing, and finance. Over 80% of the respondents rated their PMJ module
as inadequate in preparing them for the financial and accounting aspects of practice
management.
The findings indicate a significant gap in business education within the chiropractic
curriculum at UJ. There is a pressing need for an enhanced PMJ, tailored to equip
students with both general and chiropractic-specific business management skills.