As part of our ongoing analysis of public opinion in Alberta, the Citizen Society Research Lab at Lethbridge College incorporates items of community interest into our omnibus surveys of the adult Alberta population. In the fall of 2016 we included a series of questions of interest to our massage therapy students and faculty. We repeated several of those questions in 2017, 2018 and again in the fall of 2019. Below is a brief, initial analysis of the results.
Relaxation Massage
- One of every three adult Albertans (30.0%) received relaxation massage services in the past twelve months (over one million Albertans), approximately the same proportion as 2018 (31.5%) but up considerable from only about one-quarter (24.5%) in 2016 and 28.7% in 2017. No significant regional differences are measured.
Therapeutic Massage
- More than one-third of Albertans (33.8%) received therapeutic massage services in the past twelve months (well over one-million Albertans), similar to what we have been measuring for the past four years. Again, no significant regional variations are measured.
Awareness of Unregulated Professional Status of Massage Therapy Services in Alberta
- A substantial majority of Albertans (60.1%) were not aware of the unregulated professional status of the Alberta massage therapy industry. Awareness has been consistent at these levels for the past four years.
Support for the Establishment of an Alberta College of Massage Therapists
- The vast majority of Albertans (93.9%) support the establishment of an Alberta college of massage therapists.
Support for Required Entrance to Practice Exam
- The vast majority of Albertans (91.9%) support requiring those intending to practice massage therapy to pass an entrance to practice exam.
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Downloads
Massage Therapy Fall 2019.pdf