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Burgman M, Chiaravalloti R, Fidler F, Huan Y, McBride M, Marcoci A, Norman J, Vercammen A, Wintle B, Yu Y. A toolkit for open and pluralistic conservation science. Conserv Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Burgman
- Centre for Environmental Policy Imperial College London UK
| | | | - Fiona Fidler
- School of Biosciences University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
| | - Yizhong Huan
- School of Public Policy and Management Tsinghua University Beijing China
| | | | - Alexandru Marcoci
- Centre for Argument Technology School of Science & Engineering (Computing) University of Dundee, Nethergate Dundee UK
| | - Juliet Norman
- Centre for Environmental Policy Imperial College London UK
| | - Ans Vercammen
- School of Communication and Arts The University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
| | - Bonnie Wintle
- School of Biosciences University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
| | - Yurong Yu
- Centre for Environmental Policy Imperial College London UK
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Lee K, Freudenberg N. Public Health Roles in Addressing Commercial Determinants of Health. Annu Rev Public Health 2022; 43:375-395. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052220-020447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The shared challenges posed by the production and distribution of health-harming products have led to growing recognition of the need for policy learning and transfer across problems, populations, and social contexts. The commercial determinants of health (CDoH) can serve as a unifying concept to describe the population health consequences arising from for-profit actors and activities, along with the social structures that sustain them. Strategies to mitigate harms from CDoH have focused on behavioral change, regulation, fiscal policies, consumer and citizen activism, and litigation. While there is evidence of effective measures for each strategy, approaches that combine strategies are generally more impactful. Filling gaps in evidence can inform ways of adapting these strategies to specific populations and social contexts. Overall, CDoH are addressed most effectively not through siloed efforts to reduce consumption of health-harming products, but instead as a set of integrated strategies to reduce exposures to health-harming commercial actors and activities. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 43 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelley Lee
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Nicholas Freudenberg
- School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
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Agathokleous E. Mastering the scientific peer review process: tips for young authors from a young senior editor. JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH 2021; 33:1-20. [PMID: 34545272 PMCID: PMC8443951 DOI: 10.1007/s11676-021-01388-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Are you a student at a higher institution or an early-career researcher who is striving to understand and master the peer review process so to increase the odds of getting a paper published in the Journal of Forestry Research or another reputable, peer-reviewed, scientific journal? In this paper, a young, senior editor provides a handbook of the peer review process based on his decadal experience in scientific publishing. He covers major information you need to know during the entire process, from selecting journals to completing the proofing of your accepted paper. He introduces key points for consideration, such as avoidance of predatory journals, dubious research practices and ethics, interaction with peers, reviewers, and editors, and the pursuit of aretê. Finally, he points out some common statistical errors and misconceptions, such as P hacking and incorrect effect size inference. He hopes that this paper will enhance your understanding and knowledge of the peer-review process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenios Agathokleous
- Department of Ecology, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), Nanjing, 210044 People’s Republic of China
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Soskolne CL, Kramer S, Ramos-Bonilla JP, Mandrioli D, Sass J, Gochfeld M, Cranor CF, Advani S, Bero LA. Toolkit for detecting misused epidemiological methods. Environ Health 2021; 20:90. [PMID: 34412643 PMCID: PMC8375462 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00771-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Critical knowledge of what we know about health and disease, risk factors, causation, prevention, and treatment, derives from epidemiology. Unfortunately, its methods and language can be misused and improperly applied. A repertoire of methods, techniques, arguments, and tactics are used by some people to manipulate science, usually in the service of powerful interests, and particularly those with a financial stake related to toxic agents. Such interests work to foment uncertainty, cast doubt, and mislead decision makers by seeding confusion about cause-and-effect relating to population health. We have compiled a toolkit of the methods used by those whose interests are not aligned with the public health sciences. Professional epidemiologists, as well as those who rely on their work, will thereby be more readily equipped to detect bias and flaws resulting from financial conflict-of-interest, improper study design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation, bringing greater clarity-not only to the advancement of knowledge, but, more immediately, to policy debates. METHODS The summary of techniques used to manipulate epidemiological findings, compiled as part of the 2020 Position Statement of the International Network for Epidemiology in Policy (INEP) entitled Conflict-of-Interest and Disclosure in Epidemiology, has been expanded and further elucidated in this commentary. RESULTS Some level of uncertainty is inherent in science. However, corrupted and incomplete literature contributes to confuse, foment further uncertainty, and cast doubt about the evidence under consideration. Confusion delays scientific advancement and leads to the inability of policymakers to make changes that, if enacted, would-supported by the body of valid evidence-protect, maintain, and improve public health. An accessible toolkit is provided that brings attention to the misuse of the methods of epidemiology. Its usefulness is as a compendium of what those trained in epidemiology, as well as those reviewing epidemiological studies, should identify methodologically when assessing the transparency and validity of any epidemiological inquiry, evaluation, or argument. The problems resulting from financial conflicting interests and the misuse of scientific methods, in conjunction with the strategies that can be used to safeguard public health against them, apply not only to epidemiologists, but also to other public health professionals. CONCLUSIONS This novel toolkit is for use in protecting the public. It is provided to assist public health professionals as gatekeepers of their respective specialty and subspecialty disciplines whose mission includes protecting, maintaining, and improving the public's health. It is intended to serve our roles as educators, reviewers, and researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin L Soskolne
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
| | - Shira Kramer
- Epidemiology International, Hunt Valley, MD, USA
| | | | - Daniele Mandrioli
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Centre, Ramazzini Institute, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jennifer Sass
- Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington, DC, USA
- George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Michael Gochfeld
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Carl F Cranor
- Departments of Philosophy and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Shailesh Advani
- Terasaki Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lisa A Bero
- Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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Kojima T. DISCLOSURE OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN BIOMEDICAL PUBLICATIONS IN VIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF MEDICAL JOURNAL EDITORS RECOMMENDATIONS. CENTRAL ASIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HYPOTHESES AND ETHICS 2021. [DOI: 10.47316/cajmhe.2021.2.1.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
As potential conflicts of interest (COI) are common in biomedical research, handling related issues and managing disclosures is increasingly important. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) revised its guidance on COI in 2019 and introduced the latest version of the COI Disclosure Form in 2021. These documents provide guidance regarding COI policy for ICMJE member and non-member journals. The 2019 revision overviews the main changes in the ICMJE policy. The ICMJE prioritizes appropriate COI disclosures by authors and all others involved in scholarly publishing. Increasing the global awareness of the COI updated policies among all stakeholders is essential for strengthening ethical standing of journals.
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Baur X, Frank AL. Ongoing downplaying of the carcinogenicity of chrysotile asbestos by vested interests. J Occup Med Toxicol 2021; 16:6. [PMID: 33622366 PMCID: PMC7901213 DOI: 10.1186/s12995-021-00295-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Industries that mine, manufacture and sell asbestos or asbestos-containing products have a long tradition of promoting the use of asbestos, while placing the burden of economic and health costs on workers and society. This has been successfully done in recent years and decades in spite of the overwhelming evidence that all asbestos types are carcinogenic and cause asbestosis. In doing so, the asbestos industry has undermined the WHO campaign to reach a worldwide ban of asbestos and to eliminate asbestos-related diseases. Even worse, in recent years they succeeded in continuing asbestos mining and consuming in the range of about 1.3 million tons annually. Nowadays, production takes place predominantly in Russia, Kazakhstan and China. Chrysotile is the only asbestos type still sold and represents 95% of asbestos traded over the last century.The asbestos industry, especially its PR agency, the International Chrysotile Association, ICA, financed by asbestos mining companies in Russia, Kazakhstan and Zimbabwe and asbestos industrialists in India and Mexico, continues to be extremely active by using slogans such as chrysotile can be used safely.Another approach of the asbestos industry and of some of its insurance agencies is to broadly defeat liability claims of asbestos victims.In doing so they systematically use inappropriate science produced by their own and/or by industry-affiliated researchers. Some of the latter were also engaged in producing defense material for other industries including the tobacco industry. Frequent examples of distributing such disinformation include questioning or denying established scientific knowledge about adverse health effects of asbestos. False evidence continues to be published in scientific journals and books.The persisting strong influence of vested asbestos-related interests in workers and public health issues including regulations and compensation necessitate ongoing alertness, corrections and appropriate reactions in scientific as well as public media and policy advisory bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xaver Baur
- Chair Em. of Occupational Medicine, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
- European Society for Environmental and Occupational Medicine, P.O. Box 370514, D-14135, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Arthur L Frank
- Chair Em. of Environmental & Occupational Health, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Sacks G, Riesenberg D, Mialon M, Dean S, Cameron AJ. The characteristics and extent of food industry involvement in peer-reviewed research articles from 10 leading nutrition-related journals in 2018. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243144. [PMID: 33326431 PMCID: PMC7743938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is emerging evidence that food industry involvement in nutrition research may bias research findings and/or research agendas. However, the extent of food industry involvement in nutrition research has not been systematically explored. This study aimed to identify the extent of food industry involvement in peer-reviewed articles from a sample of leading nutrition-related journals, and to examine the extent to which findings from research involving the food industry support industry interests. Methods All original research articles published in 2018 in the top 10 most-cited nutrition- and dietetics-related journals were analysed. We evaluated the proportion of articles that disclosed involvement from the food industry, including through author affiliations, funding sources, declarations of interest or other acknowledgments. Principal research findings from articles with food industry involvement, and a random sample of articles without food industry involvement, were categorised according to the extent to which they supported relevant food industry interests. Results 196/1,461 (13.4%) articles reported food industry involvement. The extent of food industry involvement varied by journal, with The Journal of Nutrition (28.3%) having the highest and Paediatric Obesity (3.8%) having the lowest proportion of industry involvement. Processed food manufacturers were involved in the most articles (77/196, 39.3%). Of articles with food industry involvement, 55.6% reported findings favourable to relevant food industry interests, compared to 9.7% of articles without food industry involvement. Conclusion Food industry involvement in peer-reviewed research in leading nutrition-related journals is commonplace. In line with previous literature, this study has shown that a greater proportion of peer-reviewed studies involving the food industry have results that favour relevant food industry interests than peer-reviewed studies without food industry involvement. Given the potential competing interests of the food industry, it is important to explore mechanisms that can safeguard the integrity and public relevance of nutrition research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Sacks
- Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Devorah Riesenberg
- Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa Mialon
- School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sarah Dean
- Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adrian J. Cameron
- Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Hashemipour MA, Pourmonajemzadeh S, Zoghitavana S, Navabi N. Relationship Between Declarations of Conflict of Interests and Reporting Positive Outcomes in Iranian Dental Journals. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2019; 25:1057-1067. [PMID: 29441446 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-018-0022-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Conflict of interests is a situation when someone is in need of other people's trust on one the hand and has personal or general interests on the other hand, resulting in conflict with the given responsibility. In this research work, an attempt was made to find the relation between declarations of conflict of interests and reporting positive outcomes in the dental journals in Iran (2000-2016). In this analytical/cross-sectional study, first Health and Biomedical Information was searched and all the Persian and English dental journals published in Iran were collected. Then, all the papers published in the journals from December 2000 to December 2016 were collected and categorized in terms of the year of publication, author or authors' affiliations, Persian and English journal, type of the substance or the drug used (including the manufacturing company), declarations of conflict of interests and the positive or negative conclusion of the report. Data were analyzed with the Fisher's exact test and Chi squared test, using the program SPSS 18. In numerical analysis, the significance was set at P < 0.05. Seventeen dental journals in Persian and English were analyzed: 10 in English and 7 in Persian. Reviewing these studies showed that of 1021 articles in Persian, in 128 cases there was no mention of a declaration of conflict of interests and in 11 cases, the COI had been stated. In addition, from 1220 articles in English, in 825 cases there was no mention of declarations of conflict of interests and in 45 cases, the declarations of COI had been mentioned. There was no significant relation between the COI and 'no' COI and the reporting of positive outcomes in papers in Iranian dental journals in terms of the journal type, year of publication and the journals' guarantee form (P = 0.25, P = 0.41 and P = 0.09). A total of 83% of studies with declarations of COI had one positive outcome, with a significant relationship in this field; however, in 73% of studies with no COI, there was one positive outcome, too. In general, the society expects that doctors would not consider any incentives except the health of the patients in the efforts made by them. The severity of the consequences of COI is of higher value when the patients' health is endangered due to it. In addition, COI might change the attitude and approach of other doctors and peers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Alsadat Hashemipour
- Kerman Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
- Department of Oral Medicine, Dental School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | | | | | - Nader Navabi
- Kerman Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Oral Medicine, Dental School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Teixeira da Silva JA, Dobránszki J, Bhar RH, Mehlman CT. Editors Should Declare Conflicts of Interest. JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY 2019; 16:279-298. [PMID: 31016681 PMCID: PMC6598958 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-019-09908-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Editors have increasing pressure as scholarly publishing tries to shore up trust and reassure academics and the public that traditional peer review is robust, fail-safe, and corrective. Hidden conflicts of interest (COIs) may skew the fairness of the publishing process because they could allow the status of personal or professional relationships to positively influence the outcome of peer review or reduce the processing period of this process. Not all authors have such privileged relationships. In academic journals, editors usually have very specialized skills and are selected as agents of trust, entrusted with the responsibility of serving as quality control gate-keepers during peer review. In many cases, editors form extensive networks, either with other professionals, industry, academic bodies, journals, or publishers. Such networks and relationships may influence their decisions or even their subjectivity towards a set of submitting authors, paper, or institute, ultimately influencing the peer review process. These positions and relationships are not simply aspects of a curriculum, they are potential COIs. Thus, on the editorial board of all academic journals, editors should carry a COI statement that reflects their past history, as well as actual relationships and positions that they have, as these may influence their editorial functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judit Dobránszki
- Research Institute of Nyíregyháza, IAREF, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 12, Nyíregyháza, H-4400, Hungary.
| | - Radha Holla Bhar
- Alliance Against Conflict of Interest, BP 33, Pitampura, Delhi, 110 034, India.
| | - Charles T Mehlman
- Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Chartres N, Fabbri A, McDonald S, Turton J, Allman-Farinelli M, McKenzie J, Bero L. Association of industry ties with outcomes of studies examining the effect of wholegrain foods on cardiovascular disease and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e022912. [PMID: 31110080 PMCID: PMC6530454 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if observational studies examining the association of wholegrain foods with cardiovascular disease (CVD) with food industry sponsorship and/or authors with conflicts of interest (COI) with the food industry are more likely to have results and/or conclusions that are favourable to industry than those with no industry ties, and to determine whether studies with industry ties differ in their risk of bias compared with studies with no industry ties. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. DATA SOURCES We searched eight databases from 1997 to 2017 and hand searched the reference lists of included studies. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES Cohort and case-control studies that quantitatively examined the association of wholegrains or wholegrain foods with CVD outcomes in healthy adults or children. RESULTS 21 of the 22 studies had a serious or critical risk of bias. Studies with industry ties more often had favourable results compared with those with no industry ties, but the Confidence Interval (CI) was wide, Risk Ratio (RR)=1.44 (95% CI 0.88 to 2.35). The same association was found for study conclusions. We did not find a difference in effect size (magnitude of RRs) between studies with industry ties, RR=0.77 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.01) and studies with no industry ties, RR=0.85 (95% CI 0.73 to 1.00) (p=0.50) I2 0%. These results were comparable for studies that measured the magnitude using Hazard Ratios (HR); industry ties HR=0.82 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.88) versus no industry ties HR=0.86 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.91) (p=0.34) I2 0%. CONCLUSIONS We did not establish that the presence of food industry sponsorship or authors with a COI with the food industry was associated with results or conclusions that favour industry sponsors. The association of food industry sponsorship or authors with a COI with the food industry and favourable results or conclusions is uncertain. However, our analysis was hindered by the low level of COI disclosure in the included studies. Our findings support international reforms to improve the disclosure and management of COI in nutrition research. Without such disclosures, it will not be possible to determine if the results of nutrition research are free of food industry influences and potential biases. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42017055841.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chartres
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alice Fabbri
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sally McDonald
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jessica Turton
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Joanne McKenzie
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa Bero
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Pratt TC, Reisig MD, Holtfreter K, Golladay KA. Scholars’ preferred solutions for research misconduct: results from a survey of faculty members at America’s top 100 research universities. ETHICS & BEHAVIOR 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/10508422.2019.1612748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael D. Reisig
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University
| | - Kristy Holtfreter
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University
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Mebane CA, Sumpter JP, Fairbrother A, Augspurger TP, Canfield TJ, Goodfellow WL, Guiney PD, LeHuray A, Maltby L, Mayfield DB, McLaughlin MJ, Ortego LS, Schlekat T, Scroggins RP, Verslycke TA. Scientific integrity issues in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Improving research reproducibility, credibility, and transparency. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2019; 15:320-344. [PMID: 30609273 PMCID: PMC7313240 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
High-profile reports of detrimental scientific practices leading to retractions in the scientific literature contribute to lack of trust in scientific experts. Although the bulk of these have been in the literature of other disciplines, environmental toxicology and chemistry are not free from problems. While we believe that egregious misconduct such as fraud, fabrication of data, or plagiarism is rare, scientific integrity is much broader than the absence of misconduct. We are more concerned with more commonly encountered and nuanced issues such as poor reliability and bias. We review a range of topics including conflicts of interests, competing interests, some particularly challenging situations, reproducibility, bias, and other attributes of ecotoxicological studies that enhance or detract from scientific credibility. Our vision of scientific integrity encourages a self-correcting culture that promotes scientific rigor, relevant reproducible research, transparency in competing interests, methods and results, and education. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:000-000. © 2019 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anne LeHuray
- Chemical Management Associates, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
| | | | | | | | - Lisa S Ortego
- Bayer CropScience, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tamar Schlekat
- Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, Florida, USA
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Food industry sponsorship of academic research: investigating commercial bias in the research agenda. Public Health Nutr 2018; 21:3422-3430. [PMID: 30157979 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980018002100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify scientific publications that result from food industry-funded projects on human health and to characterize their research topics to assess the potential for bias in the research agenda. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis.Setting/SubjectsFood industry-supported projects related to human health were identified from food company websites; publications resulting from the food industry-sponsored projects were identified through a PubMed search. RESULTS Of ten companies analysed, only two (Coca-Cola and the Mars Center for Cocoa Health Science) provided a list of research projects with sufficient detail for analysis. Among the 204 publications resulting from thirty-seven disclosed research projects, the most common topic was physical activity (40·7 %), while highly processed foods were analysed in 10·8 % of the publications. Twenty-two publications (10·8 %) focused on research integrity or research methods. CONCLUSIONS Publications resulting from Coca-Cola- and Mars-sponsored research appear to skew the evidence towards solutions that favour industry interests by focusing on food components that can be manipulated and marketed by food companies. These food industry-funded publications can also distract from nutrition as a health issue by diverting public and policy attention to physical activity. Shaping the debate around scientific methods can be another strategy that corporations use for their benefit to raise doubts about the methods used in non-industry sponsored research.
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Teixeira da Silva JA, Al-Khatib A, Katavić V, Bornemann-Cimenti H. Establishing Sensible and Practical Guidelines for Desk Rejections. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2018; 24:1347-1365. [PMID: 28776148 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-017-9921-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Publishing has become, in several respects, more challenging in recent years. Academics are faced with evolving ethics that appear to be more stringent in a bid to reduce scientific fraud, the emergence of science watchdogs that are now scrutinizing the published literature with critical eyes to hold academics, editors and publishers more accountable, and a barrage of checks and balances that are required between when a paper is submitted and eventually accepted, to ensure quality control. Scientists are often under increasing pressure to produce papers in an increasingly stringent publishing environment. In such a climate, timing is everything, as is the efficiency of the process. Academics appreciate that rejections are part of the fabric of attempting to get a paper published, but they expect the reason to be clear, based on careful evaluation of their work, and not on superficial or unsubstantiated excuses. A desk rejection occurs when a paper gets rejected even before it has entered the peer review process. This paper examines the features of some desk rejections and offers some guidelines that would make desk rejections valid, fair and ethical. Academics who publish are under constant pressure to do so quickly, but effectively. They are dependent on the editors' good judgment and the publisher's procedures. Unfair, unsubstantiated, or tardy desk rejections disadvantage academics, and editors and publishers must be held accountable for wasting their time, resources, and patience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aceil Al-Khatib
- Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Vedran Katavić
- Department of Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 11, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Helmar Bornemann-Cimenti
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, 8036, Graz, Austria
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Bergenholtz C, MacAulay SC, Kolympiris C, Seim I. Transparency on scientific instruments. EMBO Rep 2018; 19:e45853. [PMID: 29789385 PMCID: PMC5989778 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201845853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientists and commercial scientific instrument makers have a shared incentive against discloseing an instrument maker's contributions to research. Stricter rules to encourage reporting of such collaboration would help to improve transparency and reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Bergenholtz
- Department of ManagementSchool of Business and Social SciencesAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Samuel C MacAulay
- UTS Business SchoolUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | | | - Inge Seim
- School of Biomedical SciencesQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQldAustralia
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Martínez C, Fu M, Galán I, Pérez-Rios M, Martínez-Sánchez JM, López MJ, Sureda X, Montes A, Fernández E. Conflicts of interest in research on electronic cigarettes. Tob Induc Dis 2018; 16:28. [PMID: 31516428 PMCID: PMC6659563 DOI: 10.18332/tid/90668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The tobacco control community has raised some concerns about whether studies on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) published in scientific journals hide conflicts of interest (COI) and whether such reports are biased. This study assessed potential COI in the e-cigarette scientific literature. METHODS Cross-sectional study was conducted on e-cigarette publications indexed in PubMed up to August 2014. We extracted information about the authors (affiliations, location, etc.), publication characteristics (type, topic, subject, etc.), results and conclusions, presence of a COI statement, and funding by and/or financial ties to pharmaceutical, tobacco, and/or e-cigarette companies. An algorithm to determine the COI disclosure status was created based on the information in the publication. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to identify associations with COI disclosure, controlling for several independent variables. RESULTS Of the 404 publications included in the analysis, 37.1% (n=150) had no COI disclosure statement, 38.6% declared no COI, 13.4% declared potential COI with pharmaceutical companies, 3.0% with tobacco companies, and 10.6% with e-cigarette companies. The conclusions in publications with COI, which were mainly tied to pharmaceutical companies, were more likely to be favourable to e-cigarette use (PR=2.23; 95% CI: 1.43-3.46). Publications that supported the use of e-cigarettes for both harm reduction (PR=1.81; 95%CI: 1.14-2.89) and smoking cessation (PR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.26-3.23) were more likely to have conclusions that were favourable to e-cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS One-third of the publications reporting studies on e-cigarettes did not have a COI disclosure statement, and this proportion was even higher in news articles, editorials and other types of publications. Papers with conclusions that were favourable to e-cigarette use were more likely to have COI. Journal editors and reviewers should consider evaluating publications, including funding sources, to determine whether the results and conclusions may be biased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Martínez
- Tobacco Control Unit, Cancer Control and Prevention Programme, Institut Català d'Oncologia-ICO, Barcelona, Spain.,Cancer Control and Prevention Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Perinatal Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marcela Fu
- Tobacco Control Unit, Cancer Control and Prevention Programme, Institut Català d'Oncologia-ICO, Barcelona, Spain.,Cancer Control and Prevention Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iñaki Galán
- National Centre for Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid/IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica Pérez-Rios
- Epidemiology Unit, Galician Directorate for Public Health, Galician Health Authority, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M Martínez-Sánchez
- Group of Evaluation of Health Determinants and Health Policies, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria J López
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.,Evaluation and Intervention Methods Service, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Sant Pau Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xisca Sureda
- Social and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Group, School of Medicine, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Agustín Montes
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Esteve Fernández
- Tobacco Control Unit, Cancer Control and Prevention Programme, Institut Català d'Oncologia-ICO, Barcelona, Spain.,Cancer Control and Prevention Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Study sponsorship and the nutrition research agenda: analysis of cohort studies examining the association between nutrition and obesity. Public Health Nutr 2017; 20:3193-3199. [PMID: 28851466 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980017002178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To categorize the research topics covered by a sample of cohort studies exploring the association between nutrition and obesity; to describe their funding sources; and to explore the association between funding sources and research topics. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS Cohort studies retrieved from MEDLINE and PubMed published between 2010 and 2016. RESULTS One hundred and twenty-one studies were included. Funding source and conflicts of interest were disclosed in 95·0 and 90·1 % of the studies, respectively. Food industry sponsorship was disclosed in 8·3 % of the studies. Half of the studies analysed the consumption of a single food or food groups, 18·2 % included an analysis of dietary patterns and 17·4 % focused on specific nutrients. Highly processed foods were considered in 48·8 % of the studies and 27·3 % considered dietary behaviours (e.g. eating away from home). No statistically significant differences in research topics were observed between industry- and non-industry-funded studies. CONCLUSIONS Cohort studies focused on more complex exposures (e.g. food or dietary patterns) rather than single nutrients. No significant differences in the research agenda by funding sources were observed. The analysis was limited by the low proportion of studies with disclosed food industry sponsorship.
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Concerns with the Study on Australian and New Zealand Fish Oil Products by Nichols et al. (Nutrients 2016, 8, 703). Nutrients 2017; 9:nu9020137. [PMID: 28216562 PMCID: PMC5331568 DOI: 10.3390/nu9020137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Study sponsorship and the nutrition research agenda: analysis of randomized controlled trials included in systematic reviews of nutrition interventions to address obesity. Public Health Nutr 2016; 20:1306-1313. [DOI: 10.1017/s1368980016003128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveTo categorize the research topics covered by a sample of randomized controlled trials (RCT) included in systematic reviews of nutrition interventions to address obesity; to describe their funding sources; and to explore the association between funding sources and nutrition research topics.DesignCross-sectional study.SubjectsRCT included in Cochrane Reviews of nutrition interventions to address obesity and/or overweight.ResultsTwo hundred and thirteen RCT from seventeen Cochrane Reviews were included. Funding source and authors’ conflicts of interest were disclosed in 82·6 and 29·6 % of the studies, respectively. RCT were more likely to test an intervention to manipulate nutrients in the context of reduced energy intake (44·2 % of studies) than food-level (11·3 %) and dietary pattern-level (0·9 %) interventions. Most of the food industry-sponsored studies focused on interventions involving manipulations of specific nutrients (66·7 %). Only 33·1 % of the industry-funded studies addressed dietary behaviours compared with 66·9 % of the non-industry-funded ones (P=0·002). The level of food processing was poorly considered across all funding sources.ConclusionsThe predominance of RCT examining nutrient-specific questions could limit the public health relevance of rigorous evidence available for systematic reviews and dietary guidelines.
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Mandrioli D, Kearns CE, Bero LA. Relationship between Research Outcomes and Risk of Bias, Study Sponsorship, and Author Financial Conflicts of Interest in Reviews of the Effects of Artificially Sweetened Beverages on Weight Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Reviews. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162198. [PMID: 27606602 PMCID: PMC5015869 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artificially sweetened beverage consumption has steadily increased in the last 40 years. Several reviews examining the effects of artificially sweetened beverages on weight outcomes have discrepancies in their results and conclusions. OBJECTIVES To determine whether risk of bias, results, and conclusions of reviews of effects of artificially sweetened beverage consumption on weight outcomes differ depending on review sponsorship and authors' financial conflicts of interest. METHODS We performed a systematic review of reviews of the effects of artificially sweetened beverages on weight. Two assessors independently screened articles for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed risks of bias. We compared risk of bias, results and conclusions of reviews by different industry sponsors, authors' financial conflict of interest and journal sponsor. We also report the concordance between review results and conclusions. RESULTS Artificial sweetener industry sponsored reviews were more likely to have favorable results (3/4) than non-industry sponsored reviews (1/23), RR: 17.25 (95% CI: 2.34 to 127.29), as well as favorable conclusions (4/4 vs. 15/23), RR: 1.52 (95% CI: 1.14 to 2.06). All reviews funded by competitor industries reported unfavorable conclusions (4/4). In 42% of the reviews (13/31), authors' financial conflicts of interest were not disclosed. Reviews performed by authors that had a financial conflict of interest with the food industry (disclosed in the article or not) were more likely to have favorable conclusions (18/22) than reviews performed by authors without conflicts of interest (4/9), RR: 7.36 (95% CI: 1.15 to 47.22). Risk of bias was similar and high in most of the reviews. CONCLUSIONS Review sponsorship and authors' financial conflicts of interest introduced bias affecting the outcomes of reviews of artificially sweetened beverage effects on weight that could not be explained by other sources of bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Mandrioli
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Cristin E Kearns
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Lisa A. Bero
- Charles Perkins Centre and Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Keller F, Marczewski K, Pavlović D. The relationship between the physician and pharmaceutical industry: background ethics and regulation proposals. Croat Med J 2016; 57:398-401. [PMID: 27586556 PMCID: PMC5048228 DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2016.57.398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Frieder Keller
- Frieder Keller, Medical Department I, Nephrology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany,
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Eisner M, Humphreys DK, Wilson P, Gardner F. Disclosure of Financial Conflicts of Interests in Interventions to Improve Child Psychosocial Health: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142803. [PMID: 26606667 PMCID: PMC4659631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Academic journals increasingly request a full disclosure of financial conflict of interest (CoI). The Committee for Publication Ethics provides editors with guidance about the course of action in the case of suspected non-disclosure. No prior study has examined the extent to which journal articles on psychosocial interventions disclose CoI, and how journal editors process requests to examine suspected undisclosed CoI. Four internationally disseminated psychosocial interventions were examined. 136 articles related to an intervention, co-authored by intervention developers and published in health sciences journals were retrieved as requiring a CoI statement. Two editors refused consent to be included in the study. COI disclosures and editor responses were coded for 134 articles. Overall, 92/134 (71%) of all articles were found to have absent, incomplete or partly misleading CoI disclosures. Disclosure rates for the four programs varied significantly between 11% and 73%. Journal editors were contacted about 92 published articles with no CoI disclosure or a disclosure that was considered problematic. In 65/92 (71%) of all cases the editors published an ‘erratum’ or ‘corrigendum’. In 16 of these cases the journal had mishandled a submitted disclosure. The most frequent reason for non-publication of an erratum was that the journal had no disclosure policy at the time of the publication (16 cases). Consumers of research on psychosocial interventions published in peer-reviewed journals cannot currently assume that CoI disclosures are adequate and complete. More efforts are needed to achieve transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Eisner
- Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - David K. Humphreys
- Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Wilson
- Centre for Rural Health, University Of Aberdeen, Centre for Health Science, Inverness, United Kingdom
| | - Frances Gardner
- Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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