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Chen T, Lee M, Constantin E, Gurberg J, Nguyen LH. Home sleep apnea tests: Conflicts of interest and funding. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 176:111755. [PMID: 37979252 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2023.111755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pediatric otolaryngologists rely on HSAT literature to guide their diagnostic methods related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our objectives were to review the rates of presence of funding and/or potential conflict of interest (COI), as well as its relationship to the overall quality of HSAT publications in the literature over the last two decades. DATA SOURCES Medline, Web of Science and Embase databases. REVIEW METHODS A review was performed reviewing publications from January 2000 to December 2021. Oxford Level of Evidence (OLE) was used as a quality metric. COI and funding were recorded verbatim as self-declared in the text of the manuscript. RESULTS Literature search yielded 4257 articles with 400 articles included in final analysis. The odds of higher quality studies (LOE 1 or 2) were higher in the last five years from 2016 to 2021 (OR, 3.6; 95% CI 1.4 to 6.9). Nearly half of all articles (43.0%) lacked a statement regarding funding or COI. There was a positive correlation between level of evidence and industry funding. The largest source of funding was from industry, comprising 39.6% of all studies that had a funding statement. Of these industry-funded studies, 37.5% reported no COI or lacked a COI statement. CONCLUSION Despite a growing interest in HSATs for OSA evaluation, there is heterogeneity in reporting of COI and high prevalence of industry funding and COI. Re-evaluation and consensus amongst journals on guidelines for reporting disclosures are needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Melissa Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Evelyn Constantin
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Canada
| | - Joshua Gurberg
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Canada
| | - Lily Hp Nguyen
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
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Moon T, Bahadur A, Aalberg J, Jonczyk M, Chen L, Margenthaler JA, Salehi P, Chatterjee A. Assessment of Conflicts of Interest in the Transcarotid Artery Revascularization Literature. J Surg Res 2023; 291:133-138. [PMID: 37390592 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To systematically review the accuracy of self-reported conflicts of interest (COIs) among transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) studies and evaluate factors associated with increased discrepancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS A literature search identified all TCAR-related studies with at least one American author published between January 2017 and December 2020. Industry payments from Silk Road Medical, Inc. were collected using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Open Payments database. COI discrepancies were identified by comparing author declaration statements with payments found for the year of publication and year prior (24-mo period). Risk factors for COI discrepancy were evaluated at both the study and author level. RESULTS A total of 79 studies (472 authors) were identified. Sixty four studies (81%) had at least one author who received payments from Silk Road Medical, Inc. Fifty eight (73%) studies had at least one author who received an undeclared payment. Consulting fees represented the majority of general payment subtype (60%). Authors who accurately disclosed payments received significantly higher median payments compared to authors who did not accurately disclose payments ($37,222 [interquartile range: $28,203-$132,589] versus $1748 [interquartile range $257-$35,041], P < 0.0001). Senior authors were significantly more likely to have a COI discrepancy compared to first authors (P = 0.0219). CONCLUSIONS The majority of TCAR-related studies did not accurately declare COI. A multivariate analysis demonstrated no effect of sponsorship on study recommendations or impact factor. This study highlights the need for increased efforts in accountability to improve the transparency of industry sponsorship, especially when consulting authors are reporting their results on patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Moon
- Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Aneesh Bahadur
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey Aalberg
- Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Jonczyk
- Department of Surgery, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts
| | - Lilian Chen
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Julie A Margenthaler
- Section of Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Payam Salehi
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Abhishek Chatterjee
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
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Makarem A, Mroué R, Makarem H, Diab L, Hassan B, Khabsa J, Akl EA. Conflict of interest in the peer review process: A survey of peer review reports. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286908. [PMID: 37289790 PMCID: PMC10249818 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the extent to which peer reviewers and journals editors address study funding and authors' conflicts of interests (COI). Also, we aimed to assess the extent to which peer reviewers and journals editors reported and commented on their own or each other's COI. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a systematic survey of original studies published in open access peer reviewed journals that publish their peer review reports. Using REDCap, we collected data in duplicate and independently from journals' websites and articles' peer review reports. RESULTS We included a sample of original studies (N = 144) and a second one of randomized clinical trials (N = 115) RCTs. In both samples, and for the majority of studies, reviewers reported absence of COI (70% and 66%), while substantive percentages of reviewers did not report on COI (28% and 30%) and only small percentages reported any COI (2% and 4%). For both samples, none of the editors whose names were publicly posted reported on COI. The percentages of peer reviewers commenting on the study funding, authors' COI, editors' COI, or their own COI ranged between 0 and 2% in either one of the two samples. 25% and 7% of editors respectively in the two samples commented on study funding, while none commented on authors' COI, peer reviewers' COI, or their own COI. The percentages of authors commenting in their response letters on the study funding, peer reviewers' COI, editors' COI, or their own COI ranged between 0 and 3% in either one of the two samples. CONCLUSION The percentages of peer reviewers and journals editors who addressed study funding and authors' COI and were extremely low. In addition, peer reviewers and journal editors rarely reported their own COI, or commented on their own or on each other's COI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adham Makarem
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rayan Mroué
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Halima Makarem
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Laura Diab
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Bashar Hassan
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joanne Khabsa
- Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Elie A. Akl
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
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Torgerson T, Wayant C, Cosgrove L, Akl EA, Checketts J, Dal Re R, Gill J, Grover SC, Khan N, Khan R, Marušić A, McCoy MS, Mitchell A, Prasad V, Vassar M. Ten years later: a review of the US 2009 institute of medicine report on conflicts of interest and solutions for further reform. BMJ Evid Based Med 2022; 27:46-54. [PMID: 33177167 DOI: 10.1136/bmjebm-2020-111503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Conflicts of interest (COIs) in healthcare are increasingly discussed in the literature, yet these relationships continue to influence healthcare. Research has consistently shown that financial COIs shape prescribing practices, medical education and guideline recommendations. In 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now the National Academy of Medicine) published Conflicts of Interest in Medical Research, Practice, and Education-one of the most comprehensive reviews of empirical research on COIs in medicine. Ten years after publication of theIOM's report, we review the current state of COIs within medicine. We also provide specific recommendations for enhancing scientific integrity in medical research, practice, education and editorial practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Torgerson
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Cole Wayant
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Lisa Cosgrove
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elie A Akl
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jake Checketts
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Rafael Dal Re
- Epidemiology Unit, Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad, Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jennifer Gill
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Samir C Grover
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nasim Khan
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Rishad Khan
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ana Marušić
- Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
| | - Matthew S McCoy
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Aaron Mitchell
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vinay Prasad
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Senior Scholar in the Center for Health Care Ethics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Matt Vassar
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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Tisherman RT, Couch BK, Reddy RP, Tisherman SA, Shaw JD. Conflict of interest disclosure in orthopaedic and general surgical trauma literature. Injury 2021; 52:2148-2153. [PMID: 33812702 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Financial relationships between industry and physicians are a key aspect for the advancement of surgical practice and training, but these relationships also result in a conflict of interest with respect to research. Financial payments to physicians are public within the United States in the Open Payments Database, but the rate of accurate financial disclosure of payments has not previously been studied in trauma surgery publications. OBJECTIVE To determine the rate of accurate financial disclosure in major surgical trauma journals compared with the Open Payments Database. MATERIALS AND METHODS The names of all authors publishing in The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, Injury, and The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery between 2015 and 2018 were obtained from MEDLINE. Non-physicians, physicians outside of the United States, physicians without payments in the Open Payments Database, and physicians with payments types of only "Food and Drink" were excluded. Financial disclosure statements were obtained from the journal websites and manually compared against Open Payments Database entries the year prior to submission and during the year of submission up until 3 months prior to publication for each individual physician. Main outcomes were accuracy of disclosure published with each article, total amount of payments received (disclosure or undisclosed), surgical subspecialty of the reporting physician. Statistical comparisons were made using Chi-square testing with significance defined as p<0.05. RESULTS Between 2015 and 2018, 5070 articles were published involving 28,948 authors. 2945 authors met inclusion criteria. 490 authors accurately disclosed their financial relationships with industry (16.6%). The median value of undisclosed payments was $22,140 [IQR $6465, $77,221] which was significantly less than the medial value of disclosed payment of $66,433 [IQR $24,624, $161,886], p<0.001 Orthopaedic surgeons disclosed at a higher rate (26.3%, 479/1818) than general surgeons (4.8%, 47/971), p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS Physician-industry relationships are key for advancing surgical practice and providing training to physicians. These relationships are not inherently unethical, but there is consistently high inaccuracy of financial disclosure across multiple trauma surgery journals which may indicate the need for further education on financial disclosures during surgical training or active obtainment of publicly available financial disclosures by journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert T Tisherman
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1010, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Brandon K Couch
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1010, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Rajiv P Reddy
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1010, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Samuel A Tisherman
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, United States
| | - Jeremy D Shaw
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1010, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
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Tisherman RT, Murray RS, Musahl V, Lesniak B. Under Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest Is Less Frequent in Senior Authors: A Cross-sectional Review of All Authors Submitting to JAAOS Between 2014 and 2018. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2021; 29:455-61. [PMID: 33620174 DOI: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-01270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The interactions between physicians and industry are necessary for advancement of clinical practice and improvement in medical devices. Physician-industry relationships also introduces financial conflicts of interest into research publications. Payments to physicians do not inherently introduce bias in research, but failure to disclose potential conflicts of interest can negatively impact the perceived integrity of authors, editors, and journals. The conflict of interest disclosure statement in all articles published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery between 2014 and 2018 were compared to the financial payments indexed in the Center for Open Payments Database. Payment type, magnitude, and payer were obtained for each payment meeting inclusion criteria. Statistical comparisons were made using Mann-Whitney comparisons due to non-normal distribution of payment amounts. 704 articles involving 2596 authors were reviewed, with 1268 authors meeting inclusion criteria. 634 authors had accurate disclosure statements. The total amount of disclosed payments was $169 million, whereas undisclosed payments were $14.2 million. The amount of disclosed payments on a per-author basis, $55,844 ($12,559, $186,129), was significantly greater than undisclosed payments, $2,171 ($568, $7,238). The lowest rates of correct disclosure were in education (29.2%), gifts (38.7%) and honoraria (57.8%). First and middle authors disclosed correctly at a significantly lower rate than last authors. The magnitude of undisclosed payments was significantly lower than disclosed payments, indicating that these payments do not register with authors as significant enough to disclose.
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Yu J, Su G, Hirst A, Yang Z, Zhang Y, Li Y. Identifying competing interest disclosures in systematic reviews of surgical interventions and devices: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Med Res Methodol 2020; 20:260. [PMID: 33076823 PMCID: PMC7574563 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-020-01144-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A competing interest is an important source of bias in research and disclosure is frequently employed as a strategy to manage it. Considering the importance of systematic reviews (SRs) and the varying prevalence of competing interests in different research fields, we conducted a survey to identify the range of competing interests in SRs assessing surgical interventions or devices and explored the association between the competing interest disclosures and authors’ conclusions. Methods We retrieved SRs of surgical interventions and devices published in 2017 via PubMed. Information regarding general characteristics, funding sources, and competing interest disclosures were extracted. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the studies’ characteristics and compared them between Cochrane SRs (CSRs) and non-Cochrane SRs using the Chi-square test. Results were expressed as odds ratio and their 95% confidence interval. Results One hundred fifty-five SRs published in 2017 were included in the study. More than half of the SRs (58.7%) reported their funding sources and 94.2% reported authors’ competing interest disclosures. Among 146 SRs that stated competing interest disclosures, only 35 (22.6%) SRs declared at least one author had a competing interest. More than 40 terms were used to describe competing interests. Cochrane SRs (CSRs) were more likely to provide a detailed description of competing interests compared to those in non-CSRs (48.0% versus 25.4%, P = 0.023). No association between positive conclusions and competing interest disclosures was found (P = 0.484, OR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.08, 2.16). In the subgroup analyses, SRs stating no competing interest disclosure were more likely to report positive conclusions than those stating at least one type of competing interest, but the difference is not significantly different (P = 0.406, OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 0.64, 2.98). Conclusion In surgical SRs, there is a high percentage of competing interest disclosures but without detailed information. The identification and statement of competing interests with a detailed description, particularly the non-financial ones, needs improvement. Some efficient and effective methods/tools for identifying, quantifying, and minimizing potential competing interests in systematic reviews remains valuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Yu
- Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.,Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Guanyue Su
- School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Allison Hirst
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Zhengyue Yang
- School of Medicine, PanZhiHua University, Panzhihua, 617000, China
| | - You Zhang
- School of Medicine, PanZhiHua University, Panzhihua, 617000, China
| | - Youping Li
- Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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Faggion CM Jr, Pandis N, Cardoso GC, Rodolfo B, Morel LL, Moraes RR. Reporting of conflict of interest and sponsorship in dental journals. J Dent 2020; 102:103452. [PMID: 32805358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2020.103452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Detailed information on potential conflict of interest (COI) and sponsorship is pivotal for the adequate understanding and appropriate interpretation of the reported study results. The reporting of COI and sponsorship and any potential associations with study characteristics in publications of all dental journals with impact factor was examined. METHODS The Web of Science database was searched, in March 2019, for articles published from February 28, 2018 to March 1, 2019. A random a sample of 1000 articles in English was selected. Two independent authors extracted the following article characteristics: type of article, dental field, number of authors, country/continent affiliation of the first author, dental journal, journal impact factor, number of citations, Altmetric score, type of COI and sponsorship. Disagreements during data extraction were resolved by discussion and consensus. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the selected variables and multinomial logistic regression was implemented to assess the association between COI, sponsorship, and the other variables. RESULTS 3% of dental publications declared a COI, whereas in 32.5% of publications the presence of COI was unclear. The most prevalent type of COI was financial (n = 26). Non-profit organizations funded 37.2% of the articles, while the sponsorship for 40.4% articles was unclear. Regression analysis showed that publications reporting COI had greater odds of receiving sponsorship from for-profit sources. CONCLUSIONS Sponsorship and COI information seem to be underreported in dental journals. Efforts should be made by authors, journals, and publishers to provide more comprehensive information to allow the reader to understand the potential impact of sponsorship and COI on study results. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The underreporting of COI and sponsorship in dental articles hinders the interpretation of findings by readers. The results of the present study bring attention to this important topic as well as guide further improvements on the reporting of COI and sponsorship in dental articles.
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Niforatos JD, Narang J, Trueger NS. Financial Conflicts of Interest Among Emergency Medicine Journals’ Editorial Boards. Ann Emerg Med 2020; 75:418-422. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2019.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Lundh A, Rasmussen K, Østengaard L, Boutron I, Stewart LA, Hróbjartsson A. Systematic review finds that appraisal tools for medical research studies address conflicts of interest superficially. J Clin Epidemiol 2019; 120:104-115. [PMID: 31809849 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2019.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to identify and summarize 1) appraisal tools and other guides which address conflicts of interest in medical research studies; and 2) top journals with policies on managing conflicts of interest in journal papers. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We searched bibliographic databases, other sources, and websites of 30 top medical journals. Two authors selected documents and extracted data. RESULTS We included 27 appraisal tools. None were designed specifically for addressing conflicts of interest and they included only 1-2 short items on conflicts of interest. We also included eight other types of guides. Of 27 appraisal tools, 23 addressed study funding, and 19 authors' conflicts of interest. Nine tools addressed availability of conflicts of interest information, 13 reported conflicts of interest, and five influence from conflicts of interest. Twelve of 30 top journals had conflicts of interest managing policies (beyond disclosure). One journal restricted nonresearch papers (e.g., editorials) to authors without financial conflicts of interest and ten only restricted under certain circumstances. CONCLUSION Appraisal tools that address conflicts of interest typically do so superficially and rarely address how conflicts of interest may influence studies. Less than half of top medical journals have explicit policies on managing conflicts of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Lundh
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense (CEBMO), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Open Patient data Exploratory Network (OPEN), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
| | | | - Lasse Østengaard
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense (CEBMO), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Open Patient data Exploratory Network (OPEN), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; University Library of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Isabelle Boutron
- Centre of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Inserm, INRA, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Lesley A Stewart
- Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK
| | - Asbjørn Hróbjartsson
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense (CEBMO), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Open Patient data Exploratory Network (OPEN), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Abstract
Financial relationships in academic research can create institutional conflicts of interest (COIs) because the financial interests of the institution or institutional officials may inappropriately influence decision-making. Strategies for dealing with institutional COIs include establishing institutional COI committees that involve the board of trustees in conflict review and management, developing policies that shield institutional decisions from inappropriate influences, and establishing private foundations that are independent of the institution to own stock and intellectual property and to provide capital to start-up companies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Resnik
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, PO Box 12233, Mail Drop E1-06, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
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DeTora LM, Citrome L. Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest: Solving the Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside an Enigma. Clin Ther 2019; 41:2643-2655. [PMID: 31526653 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2019.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Confusion exists around the nature and best practices for authors in biomedical fields seeking to disclose conflicts of interest (COIs) and other information that can produce bias. Guidelines often provide principles for action and to avoid granularity that can limit their general usefulness. Journal editors must also interpret various guidelines to produce and enhance their own disclosure and COI policies. We discussion COIs and present heuristics that can enhance disclosure practices by individual authors and inform policy and practice among medical journal editors. METHODS The authors reviewed the biomedical literature and drew on professional and academic experience to develop examples and a suggested matrix for decision making. FINDINGS Most COI commentary centers on financial relationships. Disagreement still exists about the nature and impact of various forms of COI, making critical reasoning essential when making and interpreting disclosures. Journal editors, authors, critics, and other experts express varying opinions about best practices regarding COIs. Policy decisions should be balanced and reasonable. Narrative context may help readers understand the meaning and relevance of disclosures and COIs. IMPLICATIONS A balance of personal responsibility and critical thinking can enhance disclosure practices as well as confidence in the medical literature. Using a heuristic to think through possible areas of conflict can help authors provide more complete disclosure information. Providing narrative context can ease the burden of peer reviewers, editors, and readers trying to understand disclosures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M DeTora
- Department of Writing Studies and Rhetoric, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Leslie Citrome
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA; International Journal of Clinical Practice, Wiley, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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Horn J, Checketts JX, Jawhar O, Vassar M. Evaluation of Industry Relationships Among Authors of Otolaryngology Clinical Practice Guidelines. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019; 144:194-201. [PMID: 29270633 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2017.2741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Importance Financial relationships between physicians and industry have influence on patient care. Therefore, organizations producing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) must have policies limiting financial conflicts during guideline development. Objectives To evaluate payments received by physician authors of otolaryngology CPGs, compare disclosure statements for accuracy, and investigate the extent to which the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery complied with standards for guideline development from the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional analysis retrieved CPGs from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation that were published or revised from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2015, by 49 authors. Data were retrieved from December 1 through 31, 2016. Industry payments received by authors were extracted using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Open Payments database. The values and types of these payments were then evaluated and used to determine whether self-reported disclosure statements were accurate and whether guidelines adhered to applicable IOM standards. Main Outcomes and Measures The monetary amounts and types of payments received by physicians who author otolaryngology guidelines and the accuracy of disclosure statements. Results Of the 49 physicians in this sample, 39 (80%) received an industry payment. Twenty-one authors (43%) accepted more than $1000; 12 (24%), more than $10 000; 7 (14%), more than $50 000; and 2 (4%), more than $100 000. Mean (SD) financial payments amounted to $18 431 ($53 459) per physician. Total reimbursement for all authors was $995 282. Disclosure statements disagreed with the Open Payments database for 3 authors, amounting to approximately $20 000 among them. Of the 3 IOM standards assessed, only 1 was consistently enforced. Conclusions and Relevance Some CPG authors failed to fully disclose all financial conflicts of interest, and most guideline development panels and chairpersons had conflicts. In addition, adherence to IOM standards for guideline development was lacking. This study is relevant to CPG panels authoring recommendations, physicians implementing CPGs to guide patient care, and the organizations establishing policies for guideline development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarryd Horn
- Currently a medical student at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa
| | - Jake Xavier Checketts
- Currently a medical student at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa
| | - Omar Jawhar
- Currently a medical student at Midwestern University, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Matt Vassar
- Department of Psychiatry, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa
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de Lotbiniere-Bassett MP, Riva-Cambrin J, McDonald PJ. Conflict of interest policies and disclosure requirements in neurosurgical journals. J Neurosurg 2019; 131:264-270. [DOI: 10.3171/2018.4.jns172751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVEAn increasing amount of funding in neurosurgery research comes from industry, which may create a conflict of interest (COI) and the potential to bias results. The reporting and handling of COIs have become difficult, particularly as explicit policies themselves and definitions thereof continue to vary between medical journals. In this study, the authors sought to evaluate the prevalence and comprehensiveness of COI policies among leading neurosurgical journals.METHODSThe authors conducted a cross-sectional study of publicly available online disclosure policies in the 20 highest-ranking neurosurgical journals, as determined by Google Scholar Metrics, in July 2016.RESULTSOverall, 89.5% of the highest-impact neurosurgical journals included COI policy statements. Ten (53%) journals requested declaration of nonfinancial conflicts, while 2 journals specifically set a time period for COIs. Sixteen journals required declaration from the corresponding author, 13 from all authors, 6 from reviewers, and 5 from editors. Four journals were included in the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) list of publications that follow the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (currently known as Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals). Five journal policies included COI declaration verification, management, or enforcement. The neurosurgery journals with more comprehensive COI policies were significantly more likely to have higher h5-indices (p = 0.003) and higher impact factors (p = 0.01).CONCLUSIONSIn 2016, the majority of, but not all, high-impact neurosurgical journals had publically available COI disclosure policies. Policy inclusiveness and comprehensiveness varied substantially across neurosurgical journals, but COI comprehensiveness was associated with other established markers of individual journals’ favorability and influence, such as impact factor and h5-index.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jay Riva-Cambrin
- 5Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and
- 6Alberta Children’s Hospital, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Patrick J. McDonald
- 1Faculty of Medicine and
- 1Faculty of Medicine and
- 1Faculty of Medicine and
- 4Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia; and
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Teixeira da Silva JA, Dobránszki J, Bhar RH, Mehlman CT. Editors Should Declare Conflicts of Interest. J Bioeth Inq 2019; 16:279-298. [PMID: 31016681 PMCID: PMC6598958 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-019-09908-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Editors have increasing pressure as scholarly publishing tries to shore up trust and reassure academics and the public that traditional peer review is robust, fail-safe, and corrective. Hidden conflicts of interest (COIs) may skew the fairness of the publishing process because they could allow the status of personal or professional relationships to positively influence the outcome of peer review or reduce the processing period of this process. Not all authors have such privileged relationships. In academic journals, editors usually have very specialized skills and are selected as agents of trust, entrusted with the responsibility of serving as quality control gate-keepers during peer review. In many cases, editors form extensive networks, either with other professionals, industry, academic bodies, journals, or publishers. Such networks and relationships may influence their decisions or even their subjectivity towards a set of submitting authors, paper, or institute, ultimately influencing the peer review process. These positions and relationships are not simply aspects of a curriculum, they are potential COIs. Thus, on the editorial board of all academic journals, editors should carry a COI statement that reflects their past history, as well as actual relationships and positions that they have, as these may influence their editorial functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judit Dobránszki
- Research Institute of Nyíregyháza, IAREF, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 12, Nyíregyháza, H-4400, Hungary.
| | - Radha Holla Bhar
- Alliance Against Conflict of Interest, BP 33, Pitampura, Delhi, 110 034, India.
| | - Charles T Mehlman
- Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Ruy Carneiro NC, Vieira Prado H, Duda Deps Almeida T, Almeida Pordeus I, Borges-Oliveira AC, Castro Martins C. A survey of dental journal methodological practices: Reporting guidelines and ethical policies. J Am Dent Assoc 2018; 149:1057-1064. [PMID: 30244866 DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The authors evaluated instructions for author norms among existing dental journals and analyzed whether these journals address the practice of reporting guidelines and ethics policies. METHODS The authors evaluated 87 journals indexed in Journal Citation Reports (Thomson Reuters). The authors extracted information regarding the journals from the Journal Citation Reports database and from the instructions for authors of each journal. The authors conducted bivariate analysis to compare the methodological policy issues of journals with higher and those with lower impact factors (≥ 1.452 and ≤ 1.436, respectively). RESULTS Among journals, 44 (50.6%) required the use of Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials, 22 (25.3%) Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, 21 (24.1%) Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments, 17 (19.5%) STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational Studies in Epidemiology, 6 (6.9%) Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies, 3 (3.4%) Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology, and 1 (1.1%) Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials. No journals required STrengthening the REporting of Genetic Association Studies. Journals with higher impact factors had more instructions related to the peer review process (P = .027), redundant publication (P < .001), authorship policy (P = .024), contributorship policy (P < .001), ethical conduct of biomedical research with human participants (P = .021), ethical conduct of biomedical research with nonhuman participants (P = .001), registration of clinical trials (P = .004), and conflicts involving editors as authors in their own journals (P < .001) than did journals with lower impact factors. The submission of clinical case studies was significantly more prevalent in journals with lower impact factors (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS Journals with higher impact factors have more rules regarding publication policies. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Journals with higher impact factors are stricter regarding publication policies than are journals with lower impact factors. Authors should be careful with the instructions for authors and plan studies with high methodological quality to publish their studies in a scientific journal.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND In biomedical research, there have been numerous scandals highlighting conflicts of interest (COIs) leading to significant bias in judgment and questionable practices. Academic institutions, journals, and funding agencies have developed and enforced policies to mitigate issues related to COI, especially surrounding financial interests. After a case of editorial COI in a prominent bioethics journal, there is concern that the same level of oversight regarding COIs in the biomedical sciences may not apply to the field of bioethics. In this study, we examined the availability and comprehensiveness of COI policies for authors, peer reviewers, and editors of bioethics journals. METHODS After developing a codebook, we analyzed the content of online COI policies of 63 bioethics journals, along with policy information provided by journal editors that was not publicly available. RESULTS Just over half of the bioethics journals had COI policies for authors (57%), and only 25% for peer reviewers and 19% for editors. There was significant variation among policies regarding definitions, the types of COIs described, the management mechanisms, and the consequences for noncompliance. Definitions and descriptions centered on financial COIs, followed by personal and professional relationships. Almost all COI policies required disclosure of interests for authors as the primary management mechanism. Very few journals outlined consequences for noncompliance with COI policies or provided additional resources. CONCLUSION Compared to other studies of biomedical journals, a much lower percentage of bioethics journals have COI policies and these vary substantially in content. The bioethics publishing community needs to develop robust policies for authors, peer reviewers, and editors and these should be made publicly available to enhance academic and public trust in bioethics scholarship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubin Master
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, W: 507-266-1105; Fax: 507-538-0850,
| | - Kelly Werner
- Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, Northwell Health, 276-01 76 Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 11040, W: 718-470-3204; Fax: 718-470-3935,
| | - Elise Smith
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Box 12233, Mail Drop E1 06, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, 27709,
| | - David B. Resnik
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Box 12233, Mail Drop E1 06, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, 27709, W: 919-541-5658; Fax: 919-541-9854,
| | - Bryn Williams-Jones
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada,
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Marušić
- Journal of Global Health and Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
| | - Rafael Dal-Ré
- Epidemiology Unit, Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Lopez J, Samaha G, Purvis TE, Siegel G, Jabbari J, Ahmed R, Milton J, Tufaro AP, May JW, Dorafshar AH. The Accuracy of Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures Reported by Plastic Surgeons and Industry: . Plast Reconstr Surg 2018; 141:1592-9. [DOI: 10.1097/prs.0000000000004380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Resnik DB, Konecny B, Kissling GE. Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure Policies of Environmental, Occupational, and Public Health Journals. J Occup Environ Med 2017; 59:28-33. [PMID: 28045794 DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze conflict of interest (COI) and funding disclosure policies of 224 journals listed in Journal Citation Reports as focusing on environmental, occupational, or public health research. METHODS A survey of journal policies and content analysis. RESULTS About 96.0% of the policies required COI disclosure, 92.4% required funding disclosure, 75.9% defined COIs, 69.6% provided examples of COIs, 68.8% addressed nonfinancial COIs, 33.9% applied to editors and reviewers, 32.1% required discussion of the role of the funding source, and 1.8% included enforcement mechanisms. Policies were significantly associated with journal impact factor and publisher. CONCLUSION Although a high percentage of journals in our sample have COI policies that provide substantial guidance to authors, there is a room for improvement. Journals that have not done so should consider developing enforcement mechanisms and applying COI policies to editors and reviewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Resnik
- 1 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Susan A Elmore
- 2 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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Liu JJ, Bell CM, Matelski JJ, Detsky AS, Cram P. Payments by US pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to US medical journal editors: retrospective observational study. BMJ 2017; 359:j4619. [PMID: 29074628 PMCID: PMC5655612 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.j4619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective To estimate financial payments from industry to US journal editors.Design Retrospective observational study.Setting 52 influential (high impact factor for their specialty) US medical journals from 26 specialties and US Open Payments database, 2014.Participants 713 editors at the associate level and above identified from each journal's online masthead.Main outcome measures All general payments (eg, personal income) and research related payments from pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to eligible physicians in 2014. Percentages of editors receiving payments and the magnitude of such payments were compared across journals and by specialty. Journal websites were also reviewed to determine if conflict of interest policies for editors were readily accessible.Results Of 713 eligible editors, 361 (50.6%) received some (>$0) general payments in 2014, and 139 (19.5%) received research payments. The median general payment was $11 (£8; €9) (interquartile range $0-2923) and the median research payment was $0 ($0-0). The mean general payment was $28 136 (SD $415 045), and the mean research payment was $37 963 (SD $175 239). The highest median general payments were received by journal editors from endocrinology ($7207, $0-85 816), cardiology ($2664, $0-12 912), gastroenterology ($696, $0-20 002), rheumatology ($515, $0-14 280), and urology ($480, $90-669). For high impact general medicine journals, median payments were $0 ($0-14). A review of the 52 journal websites revealed that editor conflict of interest policies were readily accessible (ie, within five minutes) for 17/52 (32.7%) of journals.Conclusions Industry payments to journal editors are common and often large, particularly for certain subspecialties. Journals should consider the potential impact of such payments on public trust in published research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University Health Network and Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chaim M Bell
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University Health Network and Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John J Matelski
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University Health Network and Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Allan S Detsky
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University Health Network and Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Cram
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University Health Network and Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Wong K, Yi PH, Mohan R, Choo KJ. Variability in conflict of interest disclosures by physicians presenting trauma research. World J Orthop 2017; 8:329-335. [PMID: 28473961 PMCID: PMC5396018 DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v8.i4.329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To quantify the variability of financial disclosures by authors presenting orthopaedic trauma research.
METHODS Self-reported authorship disclosure information published for the 2012 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) meetings was compiled from meeting programs. Both the AAOS and OTA required global disclosures for participants. Data collected included: (1) total number of presenters; (2) number of presenters with financial disclosures; (3) number of disclosures per author; (4) total number of companies supporting each author; and (5) specific type of disclosure. Disclosures made by authors presenting at more than one meeting were then compared for discrepancies.
RESULTS Of the 5002 and 1168 authors presenting at the AAOS and OTA annual meetings, respectively, 1649 (33%) and 246 (21.9%) reported a financial disclosure (P < 0.0001). At the AAOS conference, the mean number of disclosures among presenters with disclosures was 4.01 with a range from 1 to 44. The majority of authors with disclosures reported three or more disclosures (n = 876, 53.1%). The most common cited disclosure was as a paid consultant (51.5%) followed by research support (43.0%) and paid speaker (34.8%). Among the 256 physicians with financial disclosures presenting at the OTA conference, the mean number of disclosures was 4.03 with a range from 1 to 22. Similar to the AAOS conference, the majority of authors with any disclosures at the OTA conference reported three or more disclosures (n = 140, 54.7%). Most authors with a disclosure had three or more disclosures and the most common type of disclosure was paid consulting. At the OTA conference, the most commonly cited form of disclosure was paid consultant (54.3%) followed by research support (46.1%) and paid speaker (42.6%). Of the 346 researchers who presented at both meetings, 112 (32.4%) authors were found to have at least one disclosure discrepancy. Among authors with a discrepancy, 36 (32.1%) had three or more discrepancies.
CONCLUSION There were variability and inconsistencies in financial disclosures by researchers presenting orthopaedic trauma research. Improved transparency of conflict of interest disclosures is warranted among trauma researchers presenting at national meetings.
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Shawwa K, Kallas R, Koujanian S, Agarwal A, Neumann I, Alexander P, Tikkinen KAO, Guyatt G, Akl EA. Requirements of Clinical Journals for Authors' Disclosure of Financial and Non-Financial Conflicts of Interest: A Cross Sectional Study. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152301. [PMID: 27030966 PMCID: PMC4816392 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE It is unclear how medical journals address authors' financial and non-financial conflict of interest (COI). OBJECTIVE To assess the policies of clinical journals for disclosure of financial and non-financial COI. METHODS Cross sectional study that included both review of public documents as well as a simulation of a manuscript submission for the National Library of Medicine's "core clinical journals". The study did not involve human subjects. Investigators who abstracted the data, reviewed "instructions for authors" on the journal website and, in order to reflect the actual implementation of the COI disclosure policy, simulated the submission of a manuscript. Two individuals working in duplicate and independently to abstract information using a standardized data abstraction form, resolved disagreements by discussion or with the help of a third person. RESULTS All but one of 117 core clinical journals had a COI policy. All journals required disclosure of financial COI pertaining to the authors and a minority (35%) asked for financial COI disclosure pertaining to the family members or authors' institution (29%). Over half required the disclosure of at least one form of non-financial COI (57%), out of which only two (3%) specifically referred to intellectual COI. Small minorities of journals (17% and 24% respectively) described a potential impact of disclosed COI and of non-disclosure of COI on the editorial process. CONCLUSION While financial COI disclosure was well defined by the majority of the journals, many did not have clear policies on disclosure of non-financial COI, disclosure of financial COI of family members and institutions of the authors, and effect of disclosed COI or non-disclosure of COI on editorial policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Shawwa
- Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Romy Kallas
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Serge Koujanian
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Arnav Agarwal
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ignacio Neumann
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paul Alexander
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kari A. O. Tikkinen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gordon Guyatt
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elie A. Akl
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Griebenow R, Campbell C, Qaseem A, Hayes S, Gordon J, Michalis L, Weber H, Pozniak E, Schäfer R. Proposal for a graded approach to disclosure of interests in accredited CME/CPD. J Eur CME 2015. [DOI: 10.3402/jecme.v4.29894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Reinhard Griebenow
- European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology, Cologne, Germany
- European Cardiology Section FoundationCologne, Germany
| | - Craig Campbell
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Amir Qaseem
- Guidelines International Network (G-I-N)Philadelphia, PA, USA/Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jennifer Gordon
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lampros Michalis
- European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology, Cologne, Germany
- European Cardiology Section FoundationCologne, Germany
| | - Heinz Weber
- European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology, Cologne, Germany
- European Cardiology Section FoundationFoundation Council, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Robert Schäfer
- European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology, Cologne, Germany
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Koch M, Riss P, Kölbl H, Umek W, Hanzal E. Disclosures, conflict of interest, and funding issues in urogynecology articles: a bibliometric study. Int Urogynecol J 2015; 26:1503-7. [PMID: 25990207 DOI: 10.1007/s00192-015-2727-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS The ethical behavior of authors, editors, and journals is increasingly placed in the spotlight, by both the public and the research community. Disclosures and conflict of interest (COI) statements of publishing authors represent one important aspect. We aimed to unravel the current management of disclosures, COI, and funding statements in the subspecialty urogynecology. METHODS A bibliometric study was carried out. We included six journals that published urogynecology articles between January and December 2013. All original articles, reviews, and opinion articles were assessed for the presence of disclosure/COI and funding statements. Information given on the official disclosure form was compared with information given in the final article (International Urogynecology Journal). RESULTS All journals investigated require disclosure and funding statements in their instructions to authors. Of the 434 articles included, almost all contained a disclosure statement (98-100 %). Funding statements were present in 41-100 % of articles, indicating a difference in journal type (50 % on average among urogynecology journals; 75 % on average among general gynecology journals). The main source of funding was "grants" (58 %), followed by "none" (16 %), "industry" (16 %), and lastly "hospital/university" (10 %). Disclosure statements in the article were identical to the official disclosure form in 80 % (IUJ). CONCLUSIONS Disclosure/COI statements were included in almost all urogynecology articles investigated. Their content, however, is sometimes incomplete and should possibly be monitored more closely by journals and authors. Despite universal requirements of journals, the reporting of funding seems inconsistent. This issue in addition to the completeness of disclosures should be given more attention.
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Broga M, Mijaljica G, Waligora M, Keis A, Marusic A. Publication ethics in biomedical journals from countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Sci Eng Ethics 2014; 20:99-109. [PMID: 23456142 PMCID: PMC3933755 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-013-9431-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2012] [Accepted: 01/21/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Publication ethics is an important aspect of both the research and publication enterprises. It is particularly important in the field of biomedical science because published data may directly affect human health. In this article, we examine publication ethics policies in biomedical journals published in Central and Eastern Europe. We were interested in possible differences between East European countries that are members of the European Union (Eastern EU) and South-East European countries (South-East Europe) that are not members of the European Union. The most common ethical issues addressed by all journals in the region were redundant publication, peer review process, and copyright or licensing details. Image manipulation, editors' conflicts of interest and registration of clinical trials were the least common ethical policies. Three aspects were significantly more common in journals published outside the EU: statements on the endorsement of international editorial standards, contributorship policy, and image manipulation. On the other hand, copyright or licensing information were more prevalent in journals published in the Eastern EU. The existence of significant differences among biomedical journals' ethical policies calls for further research and active measures to harmonize policies across journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mindaugas Broga
- Department of Ethical Didactics, Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, Studentų st. 39, LT-08106 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Goran Mijaljica
- Psychiatric Hospital Ugljan, Zadar, Croatia
- University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
| | - Marcin Waligora
- Department of Philosophy and Bioethics, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Michalowskiego 12, 31-126 Krakow, Poland
| | - Aime Keis
- Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ana Marusic
- Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
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Oleinik A. Conflict(s) of interest in peer review: its origins and possible solutions. Sci Eng Ethics 2014; 20:55-75. [PMID: 23292861 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-012-9426-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Scientific communication takes place at two registers: first, interactions with colleagues in close proximity-members of a network, school of thought or circle; second, depersonalised transactions among a potentially unlimited number of scholars can be involved (e.g., author and readers). The interference between the two registers in the process of peer review produces a drift toward conflict of interest. Three particular cases of peer review are differentiated: journal submissions, grant applications and applications for tenure. The current conflict of interest policies do not cover all these areas. Furthermore, they have a number of flaws, which involves an excessive reliance on scholars' personal integrity. Conflicts of interest could be managed more efficiently if several elements and rules of the judicial process were accepted in science. The analysis relies on both primary and secondary data with a particular focus on Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Oleinik
- Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada,
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Bosch X, Pericas JM, Hernández C, Doti P. Financial, nonfinancial and editors' conflicts of interest in high-impact biomedical journals. Eur J Clin Invest 2013; 43:660-7. [PMID: 23550719 DOI: 10.1111/eci.12090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess financial, nonfinancial and editors' conflicts of interest (COI) disclosure policies among the most influential biomedical journals publishing original research. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 399 high-impact biomedical journals in 27 biomedical categories of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) in December 2011. Information relevant to COI and requirements for disclosures that was publicly available on journal websites was collected. RESULTS While financial COI disclosures were required by 358 (89.7%) and nonfinancial by 280 (70.2%) journals, 155 (38.8%) required editors' disclosures. Journals in the first decile of the JCR classification scored significantly higher than those in the second decile for all disclosure policies. Ninety (22.6%) journals were published by Elsevier and 59 (14.8%) by Wiley-Blackwell, with Elsevier scoring significantly better in financial disclosure policies (P = 0.022). Clinical journals scored significantly higher than basic journals for all disclosure policies. No differences were observed between open-access (n = 25) and nonopen-access (n = 374) journals for any type of disclosure. Somewhat incoherently, authors' disclosure statements were included in some published manuscript in 57.1% of journals without any COI disclosure policies. CONCLUSIONS Authors' financial COI disclosures were required by about 90% of high-impact clinical and basic journals publishing original research. Unlike recent studies showing a significantly lower prevalence of nonfinancial compared with financial disclosures, the former were required by about 70% of journals, suggesting that editors are increasingly concerned about nonfinancial competing interests. Only 40% of journals required disclosure of editors' COI, in conflict with the recommendations of the most influential editors' associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Bosch
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Abstract
Conflicts of interest (COIs) are common and important in cardiovascular medicine. Although COIs do not automatically lead to bias, conflicts between financial considerations, fame, promotion, etc., threaten valued interests such as objectivity, integrity, patient protection and cost-savings. Strategies for managing COIs include disclosure, limitations and eliminations, each of which is employed in varying degrees by universities, funding and regulatory agencies, journal editors, providers of continuing medical education and professional societies. This paper describes benefits and pitfalls inherent in each of these strategies. There is no "gold standard" for the dealing with COIs in cardiovascular medicine, but finding ways to manage unavoidable COIs without compromising the benefits of productive relationships between investigators and industry will be essential to preserving valued interests and public trust in the cardiovascular profession.
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Abstract
To characterize disclosures of conflicts of interest in review articles in psychiatry, we identified 285 reviews from 10 high-impact journals in psychiatry and 2 in general medicine. Disclosures were reliably coded as biotechnology/pharmaceutical/other material interests, nonprofit/government, communication companies, or other. The authors in both types of journals frequently reported industry ties. However, the reviews in the psychiatric journals were significantly less likely to include industry-related disclosures (32% of the reviews; 18% of the authors) compared with the general medical journals (64% of the articles; 40% of the authors). The most common types of industry-related disclosures were for consulting, research support, and speaking fees. Disclosures seemed to be of limited utility in helping readers assess possible biases because the nature and the extent of the relationships being disclosed were often unclear. Efforts to screen out authors with significant financial relationships pertaining to the topic under review may be more effective than are disclosures in protecting the integrity of the medical literature.
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Masic I. Ethical aspects and dilemmas of preparing, writing and publishing of the scientific papers in the biomedical journals. Acta Inform Med 2013; 20:141-8. [PMID: 23322969 PMCID: PMC3508847 DOI: 10.5455/aim.2012.20.141-148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In this paper author discussed about preparing and submitting manuscripts - scientific, research, professional papers, reviews and case reports. Author described it from the Editor’s perspective, and specially talked about ethical aspects of authorship, conflict of interest, copyright, plagiarism and duplicate publication from the point of view of his experiences as Editor-in-Chief of several biomedical journals and Chief of Task Force of European Federation of Medical Informatics journals and member of Task Force of European Cardiology Society journals. The scientific process relies on trust and credibility. The scientific community demands high ethical standards to conduct biomedical research and to publish scientific contents. During the last decade, disclosure of conflicts of interest (COI ), (also called competing loyalties, competing interests or dual commitments), has been considered as a key element to guarantee the credibility of the scientific process. Biases in design, analysis and interpretation of studies may arise when authors or sponsors have vested interests. Therefore, COI should be made clear to the readers to facilitate their own judgment and interpretation of their relevance and potential implications. Results and Discussion: Authors are responsible to fully disclose potential COI . In October 2009 the ICMJE proposed an electronic “uniform” format for COI disclosure. Four main areas were addressed: authors´ associations with entities that supported the submitted manuscript (indefinite time frame), associations with commercial entities with potential interest in the general area of the manuscript (time frame 36 months), financial association of their spouse and children and, finally, non-financial associations potentially relevant to the submitted manuscript. Consumers of medical scholarship expect a reliable system of disclosure in which journals and authors make disclosures appropriately and consistently. There is a stigma surrounding the reporting of COI that should be progressively overcome. Further actions are required to increase awareness of the importance of COI disclosure and to promote policies aimed to enhance transparency in biomedical research. In this article author discuss about important ethical dilemmas in preparing, writing and publishing of scientific manuscripts in biomedical journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izet Masic
- Academy of medical sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Abstract
Many scientific journals, government agencies, and universities require disclosure of sources of funding and financial interests related to research, such as stock ownership, consulting arrangements with companies, and patents. Although disclosure has become one of the central approaches for responding to financial conflicts of interest (COIs) in research, critics contend that information about financial COIs does not serve as a reliable indicator of research credibility, and therefore, studies should be evaluated solely based on their scientific merits. We argue that, while it is indeed important to evaluate studies on their scientific merits, it is often difficult to detect significant influences of financial relationships that affect research credibility. Moreover, at least five factors can be examined to determine whether financial relationships are likely to enhance, undermine, or have no impact on the credibility of research. These include as follows: whether sponsors, institutions, or researchers have a significant financial stake in the outcome of a study; whether the financial interests of the sponsors, institutions, or researchers coincide with the goal of conducting research that is objective and reliable; whether the sponsor, institution, or researchers have a history of biasing research in order to promote their financial goals; how easy it is to manipulate the research in order to achieve financial goals; and whether oversight mechanisms are in place which are designed to minimize bias. Since these factors vary from case to case, evaluating the impact of financial relationships depends on the circumstances. In some situations, one may decide that the financial relationships significantly undermine the study's credibility; in others, one may decide that they have no impact on credibility or even enhance it.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Resnik
- National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA.
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Alfonso F, Timmis A, Pinto FJ, Ambrosio G, Ector H, Kulakowski P, Vardas P. Conflict of interest policies and disclosure requirements among European Society of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Journals. Neth Heart J 2012; 20:279-87. [PMID: 22653813 DOI: 10.1007/s12471-012-0277-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest (COI) is used by biomedical journals to guarantee credibility and transparency of the scientific process. COI disclosure, however, is not systematically nor consistently dealt with by journals. Recent joint editorial efforts paved the way towards the implementation of uniform vehicles for COI disclosure. This paper provides a comprehensive editorial perspective on classical COI-related issues. New insights into current COI policies and practices among European Society of Cardiology national cardiovascular journals, as derived from a cross-sectional survey using a standardised questionnaire, are discussed.
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Lexchin J. Those who have the gold make the evidence: how the pharmaceutical industry biases the outcomes of clinical trials of medications. Sci Eng Ethics 2012; 18:247-61. [PMID: 21327723 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-011-9265-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2010] [Accepted: 02/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical companies fund the bulk of clinical research that is carried out on medications. Poor outcomes from these studies can have negative effects on sales of medicines. Previous research has shown that company funded research is much more likely to yield positive outcomes than research with any other sponsorship. The aim of this article is to investigate the possible ways in which bias can be introduced into research outcomes by drawing on concrete examples from the published literature. Poorer methodology in industry-funded research is not likely to account for the biases seen. Biases are introduced through a variety of measures including the choice of comparator agents, multiple publication of positive trials and non-publication of negative trials, reinterpreting data submitted to regulatory agencies, discordance between results and conclusions, conflict-of-interest leading to more positive conclusions, ghostwriting and the use of "seeding" trials. Thus far, efforts to contain bias have largely focused on more stringent rules regarding conflict-of-interest (COI) and clinical trial registries. There is no evidence that any measures that have been taken so far have stopped the biasing of clinical research and it's not clear that they have even slowed down the process. Economic theory predicts that firms will try to bias the evidence base wherever its benefits exceed its costs. The examples given here confirm what theory predicts. What will be needed to curb and ultimately stop the bias that we have seen is a paradigm change in the way that we treat the relationship between pharmaceutical companies and the conduct and reporting of clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Lexchin
- School of Health Policy and Management, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
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36
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Alfonso F, Timmis A, Pinto FJ, Ambrosio G, Ector H, Kulakowski P, Vardas P. Conflicts of interest policies and disclosure requirements among European Society of Cardiology national cardiovascular journals. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2012; 13:386-94. [DOI: 10.2459/jcm.0b013e328354a803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Alfonso F, Timmis A, Pinto FJ, Ambrosio G, Ector H, Kulakowski P, Vardas P. Conflict of interest policies and disclosure requirements among European Society of Cardiology national cardiovascular journals. Cardiovasc Ther Prev 2012. [DOI: 10.15829/1728-8800-2012-2-4-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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38
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Abdoul H, Perrey C, Tubach F, Amiel P, Durand-Zaleski I, Alberti C. Non-financial conflicts of interest in academic grant evaluation: a qualitative study of multiple stakeholders in France. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35247. [PMID: 22496913 PMCID: PMC3322153 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2011] [Accepted: 03/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Peer review is the most widely used method for evaluating grant applications in clinical research. Criticisms of peer review include lack of equity, suspicion of biases, and conflicts of interest (CoI). CoIs raise questions of fairness, transparency, and trust in grant allocation. Few observational studies have assessed these issues. We report the results of a qualitative study on reviewers’ and applicants’ perceptions and experiences of CoIs in reviews of French academic grant applications. Methodology and Principal Findings We designed a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and direct observation. We asked members of assessment panels, external reviewers, and applicants to participate in semi-structured interviews. Two independent researchers conducted in-depth reviews and line-by-line coding of all transcribed interviews, which were also subjected to Tropes® software text analysis, to detect and qualify themes associated with CoIs. Most participants (73/98) spontaneously reported that non-financial CoIs predominated over financial CoIs. Non-financial CoIs mainly involved rivalry among disciplines, cronyism, and geographic and academic biases. However, none of the participants challenged the validity of peer review. Reviewers who felt they might be affected by CoIs said they reacted in a variety of ways: routine refusal to review, routine attempt to conduct an impartial review, or decision on a case-by-case basis. Multiple means of managing non-financial CoIs were suggested, including increased transparency throughout the review process, with public disclosure of non-financial CoIs, and careful selection of independent reviewers, including foreign experts and methodologists. Conclusions Our study underscores the importance of considering non-financial CoIs when reviewing research grant applications, in addition to financial CoIs. Specific measures are needed to prevent a negative impact of non-financial CoIs on the fairness of resource allocation. Whether and how public disclosure of non-financial CoIs should be accomplished remains debatable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendy Abdoul
- AP-HP, Hôpital Robert Debré, Unité d'Épidémiologie Clinique, Paris, France.
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Alfonso F, Timmis A, Pinto FJ, Ambrosio G, Ector H, Kulakowski P, Vardas P; Editors' Network European Society of Cardiology Task Force. Conflict of interest policies and disclosure requirements among European Society of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Journals. Rev Esp Cardiol 2012; 65:471-8. [PMID: 22464101 DOI: 10.1016/j.recesp.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is used by biomedical journals to guarantee credibility and transparency of the scientific process. Conflict of interest disclosure, however, is not systematically nor consistently dealt with by journals. Recent joint editorial efforts paved the way towards the implementation of uniform vehicles for conflicts of interest disclosure. This paper provides a comprehensive editorial perspective on classical conflict of interest-related issues. New insights into current conflicts of interest policies and practices among European Society of Cardiology national cardiovascular journals, as derived from a cross-sectional survey using a standardised questionnaire, are discussed.
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40
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Alfonso F, Timmis A, Pinto FJ, Ambrosio G, Ector H, Kulakowski P, Vardas P, Editors’ Network members:, Antoniades L, Ahmad M, Apetrei E, Arai K, Artigou JY, Aschermann M, Böhm M, Bolognese L, Bugiardini R, Cohen A, Edes I, Elias J, Galeano J, Guarda E, Haouala H, Heras M, Höglund C, Huber K, Hulin I, Ivanusa M, Krittayaphong R, Kuo CT, Lau CP, Lyusov VA, Marinskis G, Márquez MF, Masic I, Pinho Moreira LF, Mrochek A, Oganov RG, Raev D, Rogava M, Rødevand O, Sansoy V, Shimokawa H, Shumakov VA, Tajer CD, van der Wall EE, Stefanadis C, Videbæk J, Lüscher TF. Conflict of interest policies and disclosure requirements among European Society of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Journals. Revista Portuguesa de Cardiologia (English Edition) 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.repce.2012.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
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41
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Alfonso F, Timmis A, Pinto FJ, Ambrosio G, Ector H, Kulakowski P, Vardas P, Editors' Network members:, Antoniades L, Ahmad M, Apetrei E, Arai K, Artigou JY, Aschermann M, Böhm M, Bolognese L, Bugiardini R, Cohen A, Edes I, Elias J, Galeano J, Guarda E, Haouala H, Heras M, Höglund C, Huber K, Hulin I, Ivanusa M, Krittayaphong R, Kuo CT, Lau CP, Lyusov VA, Marinskis G, Márquez MF, Masic I, Pinho Moreira LF, Mrochek A, Oganov RG, Raev D, Rogava M, Rødevand O, Sansoy V, Shimokawa H, Shumakov VA, Tajer CD, van der Wall EE, Stefanadis C, Videbæk J, Lüscher TF. Conflict of interest policies and disclosure requirements among European Society of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Journals. Rev Port Cardiol 2012; 31:329-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.repc.2011.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Alfonso F, Timmis A, Pinto FJ, Ambrosio G, Ector H, Kulakowski P, Vardas P, Antoniades L, Ahmad M, Apetrei E, Arai K, Artigou JY, Aschermann M, Bohm M, Bolognese L, Bugiardini R, Cohen A, Edes I, Elias J, Galeano J, Guarda E, Haouala H, Heras M, Hoglund C, Huber K, Hulin I, Ivanusa M, Krittayaphong R, Kuo CT, Lau CP, Lyusov VA, Marinskis G, Marquez MF, Masic I, Moreira LFP, Mrochek A, Oganov RG, Raev D, Rogava M, Rodevand O, Sansoy V, Shimokawa H, Shumakov VA, Tajer CD, van der Wall EE, Stefanadis C, Videbaek J, Luscher TF. Conflict of interest policies and disclosure requirements among European Society of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Journals. Eur Heart J 2012; 33:587-94. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehr464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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Abstract
Relationships between physicians and industry are prevalent in medical education, clinical practice, and research, as well as at the level of medical institutions. These relationships can be valuable for the advancement of medicine but have also received increased scrutiny in recent years because they create conflicts of interest that pose a risk of biasing the judgments of physicians. Responses to these conflicts of interest by medical institutions, journals, and governments have utilized four main tools: education, disclosure, management, and prohibition. Each of the four has its advantages and drawbacks. Medicine faces the challenge of tailoring the use of these tools to minimize the risk of bias while allowing useful medical-industry collaborations to proceed. Viewing the dilemmas created by physicians' relationships with industry as a version of the principal-agent problem, which is much discussed by economists, may help in developing creative approaches to these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Raad
- NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
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44
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Desai SS, Shortell CK. Conflicts of interest for medical publishers and editors: Protecting the integrity of scientific scholarship. J Vasc Surg 2011; 54:59S-63S. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2011.05.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2011] [Revised: 04/08/2011] [Accepted: 05/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Abstract
Trust in the doctor-patient or investigator-subject relationship is vital to the practice of medicine and advancement through biomedical research. Individual and environmental factors can make this trust more difficult to establish in the emergency department (ED). To perform research ethically and maintain this trust, it is important to minimize and manage conflicts of interest in human subjects research. While principle-based ethics are an important starting point, the virtue of the individual investigator is required to assure that the interests and safety of research participants are prioritized over the interests of the investigator or the medical community at large. SAEM Ethics Committee 2009-2010 Objective 4: "Based on the results of the didactic session presented at the annual meeting, develop a guide to assist SAEM members in the recognition of potential conflicts of interest in the practice of academic emergency medicine".
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Affiliation(s)
- Shellie L Asher
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
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46
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Patel AA, Whang PG, White AP, Fehlings MG, Vaccaro AR. Pitfalls in the publication of scientific literature: a road map to manage conflict of interest and other ethical challenges. J Neurosurg 2011; 114:21-6. [DOI: 10.3171/2010.8.jns091834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The process of publishing scientific research can be hampered by potential pitfalls for journals and researchers alike; the definition and determination of authorship, legal documentation, data accuracy, and disclosure of financial conflicts of interest are all examples. In the current article, the authors discuss the challenges related to scientific medical writing and provide updated recommendations for both the prevention and management of these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alpesh A. Patel
- 1Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Peter G. Whang
- 2Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Andrew P. White
- 3Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- 4Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Alexander R. Vaccaro
- 5Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Pitak-Arnnop P, Bauer U, Dhanuthai K, Brückner M, Herve C, Meningaud JP, Hemprich A. Ethical issues in instructions to authors of journals in oral-craniomaxillofacial/facial plastic surgery and related specialities. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2010; 38:554-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2010.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2009] [Revised: 01/08/2010] [Accepted: 02/10/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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48
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Berquist TH. Publication in Biomedical Journals: An Example-Based Tutorial Series, Part III: Is It Really a Conflict of Interest? AJR Am J Roentgenol 2010; 195:275-6. [DOI: 10.2214/ajr.10.5169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Klitzman R, Chin LJ, Rifai-Bishjawish H, Kleinert K, Leu CS. Disclosures of funding sources and conflicts of interest in published HIV/AIDS research conducted in developing countries. J Med Ethics 2010; 36:505-510. [PMID: 20663770 PMCID: PMC3152484 DOI: 10.1136/jme.2010.035394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Disclosures of funding sources and conflicts of interests (COI) in published peer-reviewed journal articles have recently begun to receive some attention, but many critical questions remain, for example, how often such reporting occurs concerning research conducted in the developing world and what factors may be involved. DESIGN Of all articles indexed in Medline reporting on human subject HIV research in 2007 conducted in four countries (India, Thailand, Nigeria and Uganda), this study explored how many disclosed a funding source and COI, and what factors are involved. RESULTS Of 221 articles that met the criteria, 67.9% (150) disclosed the presence or absence of a funding source, but only 20% (44) disclosed COI. Studies from Uganda were more likely, and those from Nigeria were less likely to mention a funding source (p<0.001). Of articles in journals that had adopted International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines, 56% did not disclose COI. Disclosure of funding was more likely when: > or = 50% of the authors and the corresponding author were from the sponsoring country, the sponsor country was the USA, and the articles were published in journals in which more of the editors were from the sponsoring countries. CONCLUSIONS Of the published studies examined, over a third did not disclose funding source (ie, whether or not there was a funding source) and 80% did not disclose whether COI existed. Most articles in ICMJE-affiliated journals did not disclose COI. These data suggest the need to consider alteration of policies to require that published articles include funding and COI information, to allow readers to assess articles as fully as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Klitzman
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.
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50
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Pitak-Arnnop P, Pausch NC, Dhanuthai K, Sappayatosok K, Ngamwannagul P, Bauer U, Sader R, Rapidis AD, Hervé C, Hemprich A. Endoscope-assisted submandibular sialadenectomy: a review of outcomes, complications, and ethical concerns. Eplasty 2010; 10:e36. [PMID: 20505849 PMCID: PMC2875098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To review outcomes and complications of endoscope-assisted submandibular sialadenectomy (EASS) and to analyze this innovative technique with regard to ethical issues. METHODS We used a systematic review study design to identify clinical studies on EASS, published in English, French, German, and Thai. The last electronic search was conducted in September 2009. We checked the bibliographies of the identified articles, relevant local journals, and congress abstracts. Publications were further assessed and assigned their respective levels of evidence. We also investigated reporting on human subject protection, conflicts of interest, funding support, and commercial relationships. RESULTS Five case series reporting a total of 28 patients met the inclusion criteria. There was no need of recourse to open surgery. All of the authors claimed satisfactory cosmetic results. Complications were uncommon. However, no controlled trial was available, and outcome measures varied between studies. Human subject protection and funding sources were mentioned in only 2 articles. Commercial relationships and conflicts of interest could not be identified. CONCLUSIONS All of the reports favor outcomes of EASS. However, their level of evidence is low, and the superiority of this procedure over the conventional surgery remains unknown. The success of this procedure should not be overemphasized in information for consent and mislead surgeons to begin it without adequate training and elaborate environment. The lack of ethical documentation creates a high degree of suspicion of the studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poramate Pitak-Arnnop
- aDepartment of Oral, Craniomaxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany,bLaboratory of Medical Ethics and Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris 5 (René Descartes), Paris, France,Correspondence:
| | - Niels Christian Pausch
- aDepartment of Oral, Craniomaxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kittipong Dhanuthai
- cDepartment of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kraison Sappayatosok
- dDepartment of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pichit Ngamwannagul
- eDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Dental Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Ute Bauer
- aDepartment of Oral, Craniomaxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Robert Sader
- fDepartment of Oral, Craniomaxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe, University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Alexander D. Rapidis
- gDepartment of Maxillofacial/Head and Neck Surgery, Greek Anticancer Institute, Saint Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Christian Hervé
- bLaboratory of Medical Ethics and Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris 5 (René Descartes), Paris, France
| | - Alexander Hemprich
- aDepartment of Oral, Craniomaxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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