Knowledge of ghostwriting and financial conflicts-of-interest reduces the perceived credibility of biomedical research.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While the impact of conflicts-of-interest (COI) is of increasing concern in academic medicine, there is little research on the reaction of practicing clinicians to the disclosure of such conflicts. We developed two research vignettes presenting a fictional antidepressant medication study, one in which the principal investigator had no COI and another in which there were multiple COI disclosed. We confirmed the face validity of the COI vignette through consultation with experts. Hospital-based clinicians were randomly assigned to read one of these two vignettes and then administered a credibility scale.

Findings

Perceived credibility ratings were much lower in the COI group, with a difference of 11.00 points (31.42%) on the credibility scale total as calculated thr

SUBMITTER: Lacasse JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3037872 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature