Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5019

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Publication type: Journal Article

Keim SM, Sanders AB, Witzke DB, Dyne P, Fulginiti JW.
Beliefs and practices of emergency medicine faculty and residents regarding professional interactions with the biomedical industry.
Ann Emerg Med 1993 Oct; 22:(10):1576-81
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WB0-4G82KSP-G&_coverDate=10%2F31%2F1993&_alid=409874800&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=6696&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c9e69f46e454e334bb60e2c0aeaf1787

Abstract:

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine emergency medicine resident training and understanding of general bioethics and resident and faculty attitudes and behavior regarding professional interactions with the biomedical industry. DESIGN: Two companion questionnaire surveys. SETTING: Annual resident in-service examination and written director survey with telephone follow-up. PARTICIPANTS: Emergency medicine residents and program directors. INTERVENTIONS: chi 2 analysis was used for questions involving relationships among variables with dichotomous or categorical response. An analysis of variance or Pearson Product Moment Correlation was calculated for questions with continuous variables. MEASUREMENTS AND
MAIN RESULTS: The surveys were completed by 1,385 of 1,836 (75%) residents and 80 of 81 (99%) residency directors. On average, residents receive eight hours of bioethical instruction per year but believe that they need 12 hours per year. Seventy-five percent of residents believe that company representatives sometimes cross ethical boundaries. The amount of resident understanding of bioethical concepts correlated with the number of hours of bioethics training they received. A sensitivity to bioethical conflicts index was correlated with the residents’ behavior. CONCLUSION: There is wide variation in beliefs and practices regarding the interaction between emergency medicine residents and directors and the biomedical industry. Our results suggest that residents need training regarding conflicts of interest, accepted standards of practice, and dealing with potential conflicts with the biomedical industry.

Keywords:
*analytic survey/United States/gift giving/bioethics/relationship between physicians in training and industry/physicians in training/attitude toward industry/residency directors/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: MEDICAL EDUCATORS/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING/EDUCATING ABOUT PROMOTION: PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: GIFT GIVING/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: LINKS BETWEEN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND INDUSTRY Bioethical Issues Comprehension Drug Industry* Emergency Medicine* Ethics, Medical* Faculty, Medical Gift Giving Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* Humans Internship and Residency Interprofessional Relations* Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't