Results from the first federally sponsored study of the chiropractic health care profession are presented, and a broad range of facts and issues of concern to policy-makers, the profession, and the public are described. The two-year project included three national surveys of: service providers (doctors of chiropractic in practice more than two years); recent graduates (doctors of chiropractic who have received their degrees in the last two years); and chiropractic colleges. Information was obtained on the following areas: cost of education and characteristics of educational programs; supply and distribution of doctors of chiropractic and their practice characteristics; estimated utilization of chiropractic services; adequacy of supply; and expenditures on chiropractic care. This report is divided into two volumes, the first of which presents the findings and conclusions of the 1978-79 study and how the study was completed. Volume two contains appendices, including a glossary of terms, copies of the survey questionnaires, the educational requirements of chiropractic colleges, and descriptions of sample sizes and survey procedures and other background materials. (SW)