UCLA study reports conflict of interest policies and practices of majo...( ssistant professor of emergency medicin...),Health

Researchers note that absence of disclosure appeared most common for narrative reviews, editorials, policy statements and guidelines -- the types of publications reflecting opinions of the authors, and that may well have the greatest influence on readers.

A minority of journals reported having a specific conflict of interest policy for peer-reviewers (46 percent) or editors (40 percent).

"Peer-reviewers and editors influence decisions regarding publication, as well as article content," said Hoffman.

Of the journals reporting a conflict of interest policy for peer-reviewers and editors, the UCLA researchers found that recusal policies were not common, with only 25 percent and 31 percent respectively requiring peer-reviewers or editors to recuse themselves from reviewing an article if they report a conflict of interest.

Only three percent of the responding journals publish conflict of interest disclosures of peer-reviewers, and 12 percent publish editor conflict of interest disclosures, while 11 and 24 percent respectively, reported that this information is available upon request.

"We encourage more transparency in conflict of interest reporting," said Cooper.

The next step, according to the researchers, is to examine further the extent to which conflict of interest affects the biomedical literature, and how physician prescribing behavior is affected by decisions made by those with a conflict of interest.