Because we are a developmental psychology journal and not a medical journal per se, financial conflict of interest issues and sponsored research (other than through federal grants or foundations) rarely cross my desk.

However, two papers that I had questions about recently crossed my desk. Both involved evaluation of what are essentially products. One was a software program and the other a lifelike doll and software combination used in pregnancy prevention programs. One had clearly been done by the company with help by faculty researchers. The other I was unclear about and wrote to the authors asking them to clarify their relationship with the manufacturer. Both papers arguably addressed a question of potential scientific interest to developmentalists (the latter more than the former).

Here are my three ignorant questions:

1) What are people's policies about declared conflict of interests? For example, if the manufacturer provided the product to the testers and this is declared, can the authors be said to be objective?  In other words, is this issue left to the judgment of the readers or is it covered by blanket policy?

2) Must all involvement by companies be declared? For example, although I was skeptical about the first research paper submitted, having the first author work for the company seemed a dead giveaway of conflict of interest. The authors could agree to drop that author and resubmit elsewhere.

3) How do you phrase a letter to the authors asking for more information?

Nancy Darling
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The authors should mention a generic name for the product, as you did in explaining the situation. If they disagree, then they must explain to you why a generic description or product name is not sufficient. They should address this in their introduction, too, so that readers who will have the same question will know why it was imperative to specify a product brand and manufacturer.

The authors of course must detail their relationship to the manufacturer. I can forward the COI policies of the journals with which I have worked if you still need it later. On deadline now.

Kimberly Fradette-Taylor
Publications Manager, American Society of Nephrology
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At the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, if funders and affiliations have been declared and the paper submitted is valid, then it is up to the reader to draw their own conclusions based on author affiliations/funders.

We would not discourage the mention of a specific brand name if it were germane to the research/article.

I have had one occasion in which an author failed to disclose an important connection with industry. In this case, I wrote her a letter indicating that I noted that she did not perceive her consultancy for XX company as a conflict of interest (ie, did NOT put it on her author disclosure form). I explained that transparency is critical, and in the interest of our diverse membership and potential perceptions of industry connections, that full disclosure would be a wise proactive step. She complied.

Hope this helps.

Jennifer Herendeen
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I appreciate your honesty and straightforward manner in raising the query.

My answers follow:

1. Our policy on declaration of competing interests is available at http://www.indianpediatrics.net/jan2003/jan-3-6.htm. A distinction needs to be made between competing interests and conflict of interest. A para from our above article is reproduced (to clarify the issue):

"Competing interest exists when an author, reviewer or editor has financial or personal relationship or academic competition with other person(s) or organization(s) that could inappropriately influence (bias) his or her judgement concerning a primary interest (such as patients' welfare or the validity of research), irrespective of whether the judgment is in fact affected or not. Conflict of interest is said to exist when such relationships results in creation of bias. The decision whether an existing interest is competing or has resulted in a conflict is purely judgmental.

Therefore most of the journals including BMJ prefer the term 'competing interests' to 'conflict of interests' whenever such declaration is desired. Presence of competing interests does not necessarily represent true conflict of interest. Competing interests are also sometimes referred to as dual commitments or competing loyalties. The potential for conflict of interest can exist whether or not an individual believes that the relationship affects his or her scientific judgement. Therefore, all participants in the publication process (authors, reviewer and editor) must disclose all such relationships that could be termed as competing interests."

2. Yes, all involvement by the companies should be declared. However, I do not agree to the idea of dropping a author only because he/she belongs to a pharmaceutical house. As everyone who lives in a jail is not a culprit, similarly everyone who authors on behalf of a company may not reflect a conflict of interest. But yes, there needs to be a declaration of competing interests. As an editor, our task is to evaluate the scientific validity of the content. In certain cases, however, the editors' intuition (proven true in the last issue raised on WAME by Vivienne) may overpower all other evidence. In such cases, the best policy is to wait and watch and not act in a hurry.

3. You can email to them the ICMJE guidelines/statement of Conflict of interest and read them carefully and then make a declaration, accordingly.

Piyush Gupta
Associate Editor, Indian Pediatrics