David E Steward1. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, PO Box 19636, Springfield, IL 62794-9636, USA. dsteward@siumed.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Commercial support for continuing medical education (CME) raises questions about potential conflict of interest. Current disclosure methods provide limited, general information about the nature and degree of support, such that potential conflict of interest cannot be studied by researchers or understood by physicians. SUMMARY: This article proposes a semiquantitative method for disclosure of commercial support for CME. The method includes a statement of the degree of support a program receives from all sources and an estimate of how revenue for the program compares to expenses. The new method would standardize the semiquantitative reporting of commercial support for CME programs. CONCLUSION: The proposed method for disclosing conflict of interest for CME events should facilitate the study and understanding of how commercial support affects these programs.
BACKGROUND: Commercial support for continuing medical education (CME) raises questions about potential conflict of interest. Current disclosure methods provide limited, general information about the nature and degree of support, such that potential conflict of interest cannot be studied by researchers or understood by physicians. SUMMARY: This article proposes a semiquantitative method for disclosure of commercial support for CME. The method includes a statement of the degree of support a program receives from all sources and an estimate of how revenue for the program compares to expenses. The new method would standardize the semiquantitative reporting of commercial support for CME programs. CONCLUSION: The proposed method for disclosing conflict of interest for CME events should facilitate the study and understanding of how commercial support affects these programs.