Objectives: Although the problem of conflict of interest in medical education is discussed intensively, few valid data have been published on how to deal with the form, content, funding, sponsorship, and the influence of economic interests in continuing medical education (CME). Against this background, we carried out an analysis of data which had been documented for the purpose of certification by a German Medical Association. A central aim of the study was to obtain evidence of possible influences of economic interests on continuing medical education. Furthermore, strategies for quality assurance of CME contents and their implementation were to be examined.
Methods: We analyzed all registration data for courses certified in the category D ("structured interactive CME via print media, online media and audiovisual media") by the Bavarian Chamber of Physicians in 2012. To measure the effects of conflict of interest, relationships between topics of training and variables relating to the alleged self-interest of the organizer/sponsor (for example, drug sales in a group of physicians) were statistically verified. These data were taken from the Bavarian Medical Statistics 2012 and the GKV-Arzneimittelschnellinformation.
Results: In 2012, a total of 734 CME course offerings have been submitted for 51 medical specialties by 30 course suppliers in the Bavarian Medical Association. To ensure the neutrality of interests of the CME courses the course suppliers signed a cooperation treaty ensuring their compliance with defined behavior towards the Bavarian Medical Association concerning sponsorship. The correlation between course topics and drug data suggests that course suppliers tend to submit topics that are economically attractive to them. There was a significant correlation between the number of CME courses in a specific field and the sales from drug prescriptions issued by physicians in the respective field.
Conclusions: The results show that neutrality of interests regarding continuing medical education is difficult to achieve under the current framework for the organization, certification, and especially the funding of CME events in Germany. The cooperation agreement between the Bavarian Medical Association and training applicants is taken as an example of how legal certainty can be ensured. Based on the findings described below, suggestions and strategies to strengthen assessment expertise of course participants have been developed and elaborated.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.zefq.2015.11.004 | DOI Listing |
Gastric Cancer
January 2025
Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clinico Universitario, INCLIVA, Biomedical Research Institute, University of Valencia, Avenida Menendez Pelayo nro 4 accesorio, Valencia, Spain.
Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) burden is currently evolving with regional differences associated with complex behavioural, environmental, and genetic risk factors. The LEGACy study is a Horizon 2020-funded multi-institutional research project conducted prospectively to provide comprehensive data on the tumour biological characteristics of gastroesophageal cancer from European and LATAM countries.
Material And Methods: Treatment-naïve advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma patients were prospectively recruited in seven European and LATAM countries.
Hepatol Int
January 2025
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background/purpose: Although metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has been proposed to replace the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with new diagnostic criteria since 2023, the genetic predisposition of MASLD remains to be explored.
Methods: Participants with data of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the Taiwan Biobank database were collected. Patients with missing data, positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and alcohol drinking history were excluded.
Mayo Clin Proc
January 2025
Advisor to residents and Consultant in Nephrology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ. Electronic address:
Mayo Clin Proc
January 2025
Advisor to residents and Consultant in Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address:
Mayo Clin Proc
January 2025
Advisor to residents and Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address:
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