In the January 2010 issue of Academic Medicine (Acad Med. 2010; 85:80–84.), four researchers from the Cleveland Clinic published a paper entitled, “The Effect of Industry Support on Participants of Bias in Continuing Medical Education.”
The purpose of the study: “To obtain prospective evidence of whether industry support of continuing medical education (CME) affects perceptions of commercial bias in CME activities.”
The method: “The authors analyzed information from the CME activity database (346 CME activities of numerous types; 95,429 participants in 2007) of a large, multispecialty academic medical center to determine whether a relationship existed among the degree of perceived bias, the type of CME activity, and the presence or absence of commercial support.”
CME conflicts of interest! The Cleveland Clinic! A study with zero industry funding or researcher connections! Speed dial to Senator Grassley, right?
Not so fast.
The study’s conclusion: “This large, prospective analysis found no evidence that commercial support results in perceived bias in CME activities. Bias level seem quite low for all types of CME activities and is not significantly higher when commercial support is present.”
Could this be the reason there was no mainstream media coverage or press releases from Congress?
You be the judge.
The study can be found here.
The purpose of the study: “To obtain prospective evidence of whether industry support of continuing medical education (CME) affects perceptions of commercial bias in CME activities.”
The method: “The authors analyzed information from the CME activity database (346 CME activities of numerous types; 95,429 participants in 2007) of a large, multispecialty academic medical center to determine whether a relationship existed among the degree of perceived bias, the type of CME activity, and the presence or absence of commercial support.”
CME conflicts of interest! The Cleveland Clinic! A study with zero industry funding or researcher connections! Speed dial to Senator Grassley, right?
Not so fast.
The study’s conclusion: “This large, prospective analysis found no evidence that commercial support results in perceived bias in CME activities. Bias level seem quite low for all types of CME activities and is not significantly higher when commercial support is present.”
Could this be the reason there was no mainstream media coverage or press releases from Congress?
You be the judge.
The study can be found here.
