Our judgement is influenced by conflict of interest

Abstract

Linked Article: Kayapa et al. Br J Dermatol 2018; 178:1464–1465.

Conflicts of interest among dermatology textbook authors

“…Although exposure to industry can begin as early as the medical school years, dermatology residency represents a significant period of time during which residents are the target recipients of certain sponsored educational activities or materials. A few articles have been written about CoI in dermatology as well as the types of interaction between dermatologists and industry (Anstey, 2018, Ashack et al, 2015, Feng et al, 2016), but there is a dearth of literature on the impact of industry relationships as it pertains to dermatology education. In one study, resident physicians from hospitals associated with Mount Sinai School of Medicine showed that most respondents found industry funding of education and industry-supported educational materials useful, despite finding bias in lectures (Korenstein et al, 2010).…”

Psychology’s medicalization of male baldness

“…As not all journals required these disclosures, closer inspection of the funding source, the author’s profiles and affiliations was conducted. In view of even subtle commercial influences in dermatology being (a) common (Batalla et al, 2011; Perlis et al, 2005), (b) leading to more commercially favorable results (Batalla et al, 2011; Perlis et al, 2005; Williams et al, 2006), and (c) yet often not being disclosed (Anstey, 2018; Batalla et al, 2011) and in line with best practice dermatological standards (Anstey, 2018; British Association of Dermatologists, 2016b), studies were deemed to likely have a conflict of interest if explicit evidence suggested at least one (co)author (or co(author)’s affiliated employer or the study’s commercial funders) provided baldness interventions.…”

An Evidence-Based Evaluation of Disclosure

“…Author bias may compromise the impartiality of research conclusions (2). The forward-thinking British Journal of Dermatology (BJD) addressed conflicts in a series of articles (3)(4)(5)(6). The BJD's editor stated the issue with crystal clarity: "Our judgement is influenced by conflict of interest" (7).…”

“…Two psychological mechanisms exist by which disclosure increases biased communications: strategic exaggeration (advice is more biased under the assumption that it will be discounted) and moral licensing (a sense of absolution from moral obligations to readers) (8-10). While disclosure attempts to discourage bias, empirical evidence suggests disclosure results in communications becoming more biased toward self-interests (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). A study that mimicked aspects of the patient-physician relationship involved estimators and advisors.…”