Conflicts of interest disclosure policies among Chinese medical journals: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Importance Conflicts of interest (COI) disclosure policies are critical to enhancing the integrity of research. However, it is unclear how Chinese medical journals interpret and enforce such policies. Objectives The goal of this investigation is to determine the current status of COI disclosure policy enforcement in Chinese medical journals and to promote comprehensive COI policies. Methods In this cross-sectional study conducted from September 1 st to October 29 th 2017, journal instructions, websites and print issues of journals indexed by the Core Journals of China (version 2014), in the medical and health sector, were reviewed to identify whether COI disclosure policies existed and how complete these policies were. Results Of 248 eligible journals, 78 (31%) mentioned COI policies; 9 (4%) applied standardized disclosure forms; 18 (7%) required disclosure statements in articles; 4 (2%) mentioned policy bases; none validated disclosed COIs; 2 (1%) mentioned how they dealt with breaches; 18 (7%) involved the management of disclosed COIs; and 62 (25%) and 55 (22%) noted financial and nonfinancial COIs, respectively. Seventy-eight journals (31%) mentioned COIs in research and authors’ obligation towards disclosure; 2 (1%) and 6 (2%) mentioned family members’ and institutional COIs, respectively. Twenty-two and 11 journals mentioned at least one form of financial and nonfinancial COI type in research, respectively. Seven journals (3%) required disclosure of the source of financial support in research, but no journals mentioned the amount of support. Seven (3%) and 12 (5%) journals mentioned COIs in the editorial process and peer-review, respectively. Clinical journals (45%) paid more attention to COI policies than non-clinical journals. Conclusions Approximately one-third of Chinese medical journals had COI policies, and of the journals that mentioned financial COIs most required nonfinancial COIs. However, the extent to which journals implemented COI policies was insufficient. There is a generic lack of standardized disclosure forms and management of COIs in most journals. The subject and details of COIs involved in the editorial and peer-review process received less attention than those in research.

Financial Conflicts of Interest Among Systematic Review Authors Investigating Interventions for Achilles Tendon Ruptures

“…32 Findings from numerous studies, including our own, demonstrate the need for better criteria and enforcement for the disclosure of COIs and FCOIs among international authors. 5,28,33 Because international financial relationships may be common within orthopedic literature, without optimal reporting, the influence of these interests on research outcomes and interpretation will continue to go unnoticed.…”

“…Zhu and Sun found journals not enforcing COI disclosures among publishing authors is not limited to only American journals. 33 A 2020 study discovered that authors of arthroplasty manuscripts inaccurately disclosed their COIs in relation to what could be found on the Open Payments Program. 32 Findings from numerous studies, including our own, demonstrate the need for better criteria and enforcement for the disclosure of COIs and FCOIs among international authors.…”

Promoting integrity in scholarly research and its publication: International Endodontic Journal policy on reporting conflicts of interest, funding and acknowledgements within manuscripts submitted for publication

“…Submitting the conflict of interest disclosure form A conflict of interest disclosure form is an unified form used for recording minimum conflicts of interest specifications and the declarations of authors (Zhu & Sun, 2019). The International Endodontic Journal uses the WILEY conflicts of interest form, which is a modified version of the ICMJE form (http://www.icmje.org/confl icts-of-inter est/).…”

“…These are commonly payments made through financial grants, personal fees and reimbursement of expenses. However, indirect financial benefits can arise through an offer of potential future employment, and the donation of supplies, equipment, facilities, and future profit‐sharing and future shareholding, and future patent assignment, or even furthering friendships and sharing religious and personal beliefs with a sponsor (Zhu & Sun, 2019).…”

“…Editorial working groups have recognised the danger of bias created by potential conflicts of interest in peerreviewed manuscripts. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE; http://www.icmje.org) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (https://publi catio nethi cs.org) have created a policy to ensure that conflicts of interest are declared and interpreted (Zhu & Sun, 2019). The disclosure of detailed information about the conflicts of interest and funding in manuscripts helps editors, peer reviewers and readers to develop a better understanding of the results and conclusions of reports and their interpretation; they also increase transparency and the ability of journals to disseminate trustworthy research (Faggion et al, 2020;Zhu & Sun, 2019).…”