Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1934

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: Journal Article

Smith R.
Making progress with competing interests.
BMJ 2002 Dec 14; 325:(7377):1375-6
http://bmj.com/cgi/reprint/325/7377/1375.pdf

Abstract:

In discussing progress made by journals in managing the problem of competing interests, the Editor announces that the BMJ is posting on its website a statement of competing interests of editorial and executive staff. A study is published in the current edition of a trial showing the influence of competing interest statements on readers’ perceptions. The history of medical journals and competing interests is reviewed since the first policy statement of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors in 1993 and its strengthening in 2001 to declare the exact role of sponsors. Neither policy has been widely implemented. The BMJ ‘s requirements are stated. Four studies are cited referring to calcium channel blockers, tobacco, third generation contraceptive pills, alteplase as evidence that competing interests have a strong influence on interpretation of evidence. It is stated that the problem is not in having competing interests but in not declaring them. The published study in which readers were randomly sent a BMJ article with or without a commenting interest statement is referred to as showing that readers discount heavily articles with competing interest statements. The as yet incomplete website statements by BMJ staff and boards is explained. Questions are posed as to whether to require declaration of non-financial interests as well as financial ones, and whether to require statements on the scale of the financial interests.

Keywords:
Conflict of Interest* Great Britain Periodicals/standards* editorial United Kingdom