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Evidence Regarding the Impact of Conflicts of Interest on Environmental and Occupational Health Research

  • Ethics and Policy (M Tondel, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review describes published literature providing evidence for financial conflicts of interest in environmental and occupational health research. Secondary goals were to describe evidence that (a) utilized quantitative methods to evaluate the association of conflicts with study outcomes, and (b) assessed undisclosed as well as disclosed conflicts of interest.

Recent Findings

Forty-three studies were identified which contained descriptions of the impact of financial conflicts of interest on research results; 11 of these conducted quantitative analyses to demonstrate these relationships.

Summary

All 11 articles which quantified associations identified significant associations of the presence of financial conflicts of interest with study findings. In studies which measured undisclosed conflicts, these comprised a substantial proportion of all conflicts. Suggestions for improving understanding and interpretation of research results are presented.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Jane Yactilla and Zainab Hasan for their assistance in preparing this work.

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  1. School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Ellen M. Wells

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  1. Ellen M. Wells
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Ellen M. Wells is a member of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology’s Ethics and Philosophy Committee.

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Wells, E.M. Evidence Regarding the Impact of Conflicts of Interest on Environmental and Occupational Health Research. Curr Envir Health Rpt 4, 109–118 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-017-0139-y

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