89% of medical journals governs conflicts of interest

A group of researchers led by Jared A. Blum, of Brown University School of Medicine (USA), has studied the political conflict of interest of 10% of the highest impact medical journals to determine the variability of requirements and definitions of conflicts of interest by authors, according to a report published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

SINC | November 24, 2009 22:00

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Of all the publications included in the study, examples of potential conflicts of interest in 197 journals (77%) were found. Illustration: SINC / Luis Demano.

The authors of this study found that 228 of the 256 papers reviewed (89%) included words that forced the author to disclose conflicts of interest and that 54% (138) of them forced the authors to submit disclosure statements signed.

Of all the publications included in the study, examples of potential conflicts of interest in 197 journals (77%) were found, mostly referred to as direct financial relationships "ownership or participation in actions" (89%) or "consulting" (84%).

A minority included other potential conflicts, such as relationships of a personal nature (42%), evidence of paid (42%) experts relationships with companies (26%) or shift allowances (12%).

Study researchers say that "the refusal of some authors to disclose interests that conflict with patient care has reduced trust in the medical literature, both the general public and of health professionals."

Protocols of Practice

Furthermore, compared with findings of previous studies, scientists note an substantial increase in the prevalence of COI policies in the last decade.

Similarly, progress in the editorial policies requiring authors to disclose conflicts of interest is appreciated. "These results are encouraging, but many publications that do not require authors to sign disclosure statements and there is much diversity in how to define the concept of conflict of interest," experts say.

The study also points to the need for the assistantship is alerted to the possibility of conflicts of interest "undisclosed" in those medical journals that do not provide such explicit requirement as well as "the importance of assessing whether policies detailed conflict of interest obligatoreidad and sign disclosure statements for all authors contribute to increase the accuracy of the information. "

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Source: http://www.agenciasinc.es/Noticias/El-89-de-las-revistas-medicas-regula-los-conflictos-de-interes