Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10603

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: report

Wager E
Medical Writers and Peer-Reviewed Journals: Understanding the Rules and Responsibilities.
: Keyword Pharma Expert Reviews 2007 Jun
http://www.keywordpharma.com/medicalwriters/

Abstract:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Medical writers perform an invaluable role in the dissemination of scientific information, in particular the publication of clinical trial results. However, their work has not always been acknowledged. The pharmaceutical industry has endured much criticism of how it reports clinical trials. High-profile abuses of publication ethics from within the industry have fuelled suspicions of the sector and, by association, damaged the reputations of responsible writers and communications companies. This has led to escalating calls for greater transparency in the relationships between journals, medical writers and pharmaceutical sponsors. Many journals have responded by establishing and enforcing stricter guidelines on the publication of clinical trials.

Editors and readers have responded to concerns about conflicts of interest in publications by demanding greater information on individuals involved in developing publications. Policies of disclosing individuals’ contributions to publications have increased awareness of the roles of company employees previously hidden from public view and brought about wider acknowledgement of the work of medical writers.

This Expert Review, Medical Writers and Peer-Reviewed Journals: Understanding the Rules and Responsibilities, looks at the complexities of reporting clinical trials and the important role played by medical writers. It outlines guidelines affecting medical writers that are being adopted by many journals and medical editor associations. It calls on journals and sponsor companies to work together to embrace transparency and to agree best practice in the publication of clinical trials.

CONTENTS
• Introduction
• About the author
• What’s the problem?
• Who’s bothered – and why should we be bothered?
• The great authorship debate
• Where are we now?
• What next?
• References
• Further reading

Notes:

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