4/8 Authors with #FinancialInterests are more likely to publish positive results
A @CochraneLibrary review of nearly 200 RCTs published in major journals found 68% had personal financial ties between principal investigators, drugmakers bit.ly/3MOhyv9
5/8 How a study is designed can shape packaging of takeaway messages to prescribers
Commercial influence on trial design can include:
✅Nature of the hypothesis
✅Choice of comparators
✅Outcome definitions
✅What results are ultimately reported (or not)
6/8 Professional healthcare groups often counsel members to identify and avoid actual, potential or perceived COIs
@CMA_Docs: Doctors have responsibility to ensure "collaboration with industry primarily serves the interests of their patients & the public" bit.ly/3sU3dFu
7/8 Therapeutics Initiative (TI) approach to COI
The TI is an independent org'n, separate from gov't, pharma, other vested interests
We believe independent evidence assessments of drug therapies are needed to ⚖️ industry-sponsored information sources ti.ubc.ca/letter136
8/8 Back to Kirsten's conference
Post-presentation, she gives the organizers feedback: "Please aim for unconflicted speakers next time"
She also plans to seek high quality #prescribing information, primarily evidence from unconflicted systematic reviews ti.ubc.ca/letter136
⚠️For diabetes meds, low blood sugar is one of the most important side effects
⚠️Sulfonylureas & insulins are the drugs most likely to cause low blood sugar
1⃣ A drug is prescribed 💊
2⃣ #AdverseEvent occurs but is misinterpreted as a new medical condition ⚠️
3⃣Another drug is prescribed for the drug-induced adverse event 💊💊
✅Fewer than 2% of urine cultures meaningfully impact choice of treatment or need for follow-up
✅Most guidelines recommend against culture for
symptomatic uncomplicated #UTIs