Research and Skills

1. Conflict of Interest in Research
A conflict of interest arises whenever there is any potential bias that could affect a researcher's
work. Suppose a researcher could gain financially or career-wise if he or she gets a particular
result from a study. Although this by itself is acceptable, some people might doubt whether such
considerations had compromised the study design, conduct, or publication of the study findings,
especially if the researcher had not disclosed the potential gain.1
This situation is termed
“Conflicts of interest” (COI).
Conflicts of interest can include both financial and non-financial gains.2,3
For example, consider
a peer reviewer who is evaluating a study that decreases the importance of the reviewer’s own
research. This could lead the reviewer to recommend rejection of the study even if the study itself
is original and robust, which gives rise to a conflict of interest.
Conflict of interest due to financial gain is the most common one that authors face and must
disclose. It includes sources of funding, ownership of stocks in companies that may gain
financially from the research, and acceptance of consulting fees or salary from a company that
may benefit from the research, among others. For example, a review on the publication of research
findings revealed that research sponsorship contributes to publication bias because the sponsors
often own the data, making the data susceptible to manipulation and suppression.4
Conflicts of interest are inevitable in an academic career, and it is the responsibility of researchers
to identify potential or actual conflicts. The Integrity Coordinating Group has outlined an excellent
list – known as the six Ps - that researchers can use to determine whether a conflict of interest
exists:5

2. Public duty versus private interest: Do I or the research sponsor have personal or financial interests
that may conflict or be perceived to conflict with the interests and welfare of the general public?
Potentialities: Could there be financial or other intellectual benefits for me, my organization, or
research sponsor that could cast doubts on my research and data?
Perception: How will my or my research sponsor’s involvement in study conception,
study supervision, study design, research conduct, and manuscript writing be perceived by others?
Would any bias in research design, sample selection, data reporting, data modification, and
manuscript preparation be perceived as a conflict of interest associated with me, my organization,
or research sponsor? Are there any risks associated with me, my organization, or research sponsor?
Proportionality: Does my or my research sponsor’s involvement in all decisions regarding
the research appears to be fair and reasonable?
Presence of mind: What consequences will I face if I ignore or do not disclose a conflict
of interest? Can I give a reasonable answer if editors, reviewers, or readers question my or my
research sponsor’s involvement?
Promises: Have I, my organization, or research sponsor made any promises or
commitment in relation to conducting or publishing the research? Do I stand to gain or lose from
the promised action/decision?
Why authors must disclose conflicts of interest?
Almost all scientific and non-technical journals require authors to disclose potential or actual
conflicts of interest related to their study. Some journals, like JAMA, require authors to submit
signed financial disclosure statements. Other journals, like BMC Cancer, insist in their guidelines

3. that a separate section on conflict of interest be included in the manuscript and that any details be
provided in the covering letter.
When declaring conflicts of interest, researchers are expected to provide detailed information
about relevant financial interests; grants, financial support, and funding received from industry;
and other intellectual benefits like filed or pending patents that represent future financial gains.
Researchers are also required to specify the role of the funding organization or sponsor in the
study design and conduct; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; and manuscript drafting,
review, and final approval.
It is very important to inform journals about conflicts of interest. Journals may not always publicly
disclose conflicts of interest at the time of publishing the paper. However, if any one questions
the study or raises doubt that a conflict of interest exists, the journal will publish the authors’
conflict of interest disclosure and mention that the authors had already informed the journal; this
makes the authors’ conduct seem less suspicious.
However, if the authors had not informed the journal and it is discovered that conflicts of interest
did indeed exist, the consequences can be serious, including retraction of the paper and
investigation by the authors’ affiliated institutes.
Journals do not usually police conflicts of interest issues themselves. Rather, it is the authors’
affiliation (university or research institute) that creates, implements, and monitors conflicts of
interest policies for their faculty. Thus, authors are usually able to avoid conflict of interest
scenarios before their research is complete and their paper is submitted for publication. When in
doubt, researchers are advised to consult their institution before approaching the journal.
Source: Editage