Background: Peer review may improve the quality of research manuscripts and aid in editorial decisions, but reviewers can have conflicts of interest that impact on their recommendations.
Objectives: The objective was to systematically map and describe the extent and nature of empirical research on peer reviewers' conflicts of interest in biomedical research.
Design: Scoping review METHODS: In this scoping review, we included studies investigating peer reviewers' conflicts of interest in journal manuscripts, theses and dissertations, conference abstracts, funding applications and clinical guidelines.
In conducting a scoping review on the health effects of high-concentration cannabis products, we have uncovered pervasive methodological shortcomings within the cannabis literature. This paper begins by defining the 'causal effect' of interest for public health and delineating the desirable features of study design that can address crucial questions pertaining to public health and policy. We further delve into the methodological complexities inherent in studying the health effects of high-concentration cannabis products, describing challenges associated with the measurement of exposures and outcomes, confounding, selection bias, and the generalizability of findings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFor public health protection, informed decision-making relies on having a robust foundation of evidence concerning risks and their prevention. Application of an evidence-based framework depends on the availability of pertinent, scientifically sound data generated by well-directed and valid research endeavors. In this essay, we address the current state of research in humans and the evidential base concerning high-concentration delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) products, which are readily available in the United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: With the expansion of professional autonomy and prescriptive authority of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), interactions with industry are under greater scrutiny. As of July 1, 2021, pharmaceutical and medical device companies must publicly report all payments to APRNs through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Open Payments website.
Purpose: To gauge APRNs' familiarity with, and perceptions of the Open Payments database and discuss whether and how APRNs should respond.
Paper mills are fraudulent organizations that make money by writing fake manuscripts and offering authorship slots for sale to academic customers. Mill activity differs in scale to individual academic misconduct: many thousands of fake paper mill manuscripts have been successfully published in peer-reviewed journals. Despite this, paper mill activity is still relatively unrecognized outside the publishing industry.
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