European Association of Urology Guidelines Office: How We Ensure Transparent Conflict of Interest Disclosure and Management

Explaining the concepts and examples of conflict of interest and its management in the medical laboratory system of Iran: A scoping review

The occurrence of conflict of interest (CoI) is assumed to be a big challenge facing all healthcare sectors, including the medical laboratory system (MLS). Therefore, this study aimed to explain the concepts and examples of CoI and its management within this system. This scoping review was fulfilled in 2023 in Iran. To this end, the Persian and English keywords of this study were searched on the Persian and English databases based on the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework. All retrieved articles were then imported into EndNote X8, and their quality was evaluated via the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). In total, 104 articles, of 6875 sources extracted, published from 2000 to 2023, were recruited following the identification and screening stages. Most articles had reported the maximum number of CoI examples in the MLS in diverse nations, including Iran, particularly in terms of structural, financial, objective, and subjective issues and primary and secondary interests among policymakers and higher-ranking managers of the healthcare system. Currently, CoI in healthcare systems, including the MLS, is unavoidable, but the best strategy, in preference to removing this situation, is to manage it under potential conditions before its occurrence and conversion into corruption. In view of that, it is recommended to provide effective training programs, increase transparency at work, facilitate compliance with professional guidelines, reform organizational structures and processes in the public sector, and establish policies best suited to manage CoI in the MLS of Iran.

Did COVID-19 area change our urology practice: A retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVE

This research aimed at evaluating the changing conditions and experiences of urological practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

The data of all patients who were admitted to outpatient clinics at Hisar Intercontinental Hospital or the hospital's online patient portal system between March 11th and May 30th, 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Of all patients, 545 in outpatient clinics and 25 in online portal system, (17%) were hospitalized for medical treatment, and 53 underwent surgery. There were 1032 patients admitted to Urology Clinics and 104 patients who underwent surgery in the same period of 2019. The pre-operative assessment of patients who were candidates of urological surgery included certain criteria for COVID-19.

RESULTS

Of patients included in this study, the median age was 41 years (18-90). The mean hospital stay was 1 day (1-12), and the mean duration of operation was 25 min (3-250). Thirty-seven patients (69.8%) underwent general anesthesia, while only 11(20.8%) underwent combined spinal epidural anesthesia. Four patients (7.5%) required local and only one patient (1.9%) underwent sedo-analgesia. Complications were encountered in six patients (11.4%), urosepsis in two, pneumonia in one, and urinary tract infection in three patients. Compared to last year's numbers, the number of patients admitted to the hospital's outpatient clinic and that of hospitalized patients decreased by 47.2% and 49.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Emergent surgeries in urological practices can be performed safely under routine preoperative testing for COVID-19 and with the use of adequate protective equipment for both the surgical team and the patient.