Comparison of Conflict of Interest Policies and Reported Practices in Academic Medical Centers in the United States

Abstract

The authors reviewed the conflict of interest policies of 9 academic medical centers in the United States and interviewed members of the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and Conflict of Interest Committees (COICs) at those institutions. They found that many institutions used processes for reporting and managing conflicts of interest that were more decentralized than the processes described in their policies. Also, most institutions had no clear and comprehensive policy to guide investigators regarding disclosure of conflicts of interest to potential research participants. Considerable differences in understanding of conflict of interest policies were observed between IRB and COIC officials.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant R01 HL075538 01 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to Dr. Sugarman.

The authors thank Damon Seils for editorial assistance and manuscript preparation.

Notes

∗ Institutions in order of agreement.

∗ Institutions in order of agreement.

∗ Institutions in order of agreement.

∗ Institutions in order of agreement.

∗ Institutions in order of agreement.

∗ Institutions in order of agreement.