TY - JOUR
T1 - Financial Conflicts of Interest Among Systematic Review Authors Investigating Interventions for Achilles Tendon Ruptures
AU - Cole, W. Tanner
AU - Hillman, Cody
AU - Corcoran, Adam
AU - Anderson, J. Michael
AU - Weaver, Michael
AU - Torgerson, Trevor
AU - Hartwell, Micah
AU - Vassar, Matt
N1 - Funding Information:
Although financial conflicts of interest can influence the favorability of outcomes, private funding sources have also been shown to affect the presentation of results. According to a 2014 study analyzing the influence the funding sources and COI had on the outcome and quality of spinal research, industry-funded research was shown to report favorable outcomes. Mandrioli and colleagues found that 81% of systematic reviews funded by industry reported favorable results. Printz et al also discovered industry-sponsored studies of osteoarthritis of the knee reported no unfavorable conclusion. Industry funding not only can influence favorable reporting of results, but it may also affect editor’s acceptance of such studies into their respective journals. For instance, Mehlman et al discovered a significant tie between physicians on orthopedic surgery journal editorial boards and industry in 2017. Just over three-quarters of these physicians received some type of financial compensation. Although no systematic reviews reported industry sponsorship within this study, it is an issue that warrants greater exploration.
Funding Information:
The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Matt Vassar, PhD, reports support for the present manuscript (e.g., funding, provision of study materials, medical writing, article processing charges, etc.): grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Office of Research Integrity, and Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, all outside the present work. ICMJE forms for all authors are available online.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of undisclosed financial conflicts of interest in Achilles tendon rupture repair–focused systematic reviews. Methods: Following a cross-sectional study design, we searched MEDLINE and Embase for Achilles tendon rupture repair systematic reviews. We performed screening and data extraction in a blind, triplicate fashion. Each systematic review was evaluated on the individual characteristics of the study, presence of undisclosed and disclosed conflicts of interest, favorability of results and conclusions, and the relationship between conflicts of interest and the favorability of results and conclusions. Results: Our search produced 172 total systematic reviews pertaining to Achilles tendon rupture repair; of those, only 12 were included in our study. Undisclosed conflicts of interest were found in half (6/12) of the included reviews. However, no significant association was found between conflict of interest and the favorability of results and conclusions. Conclusion: Undisclosed conflicts of interests were discovered in a large percentage of our sample. This lack of disclosure did not appear to increase the likelihood of the systematic review results or conclusions reporting favorability of the intervention being investigated. Level of Evidence: Level II.
AB - Background: The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of undisclosed financial conflicts of interest in Achilles tendon rupture repair–focused systematic reviews. Methods: Following a cross-sectional study design, we searched MEDLINE and Embase for Achilles tendon rupture repair systematic reviews. We performed screening and data extraction in a blind, triplicate fashion. Each systematic review was evaluated on the individual characteristics of the study, presence of undisclosed and disclosed conflicts of interest, favorability of results and conclusions, and the relationship between conflicts of interest and the favorability of results and conclusions. Results: Our search produced 172 total systematic reviews pertaining to Achilles tendon rupture repair; of those, only 12 were included in our study. Undisclosed conflicts of interest were found in half (6/12) of the included reviews. However, no significant association was found between conflict of interest and the favorability of results and conclusions. Conclusion: Undisclosed conflicts of interests were discovered in a large percentage of our sample. This lack of disclosure did not appear to increase the likelihood of the systematic review results or conclusions reporting favorability of the intervention being investigated. Level of Evidence: Level II.
KW - Achilles tendon disorders
KW - statistical analysis
KW - trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117728803&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/24730114211019725
DO - 10.1177/24730114211019725
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85117728803
SN - 2473-0114
VL - 6
JO - Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics
JF - Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics
IS - 2
ER -