13. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2012 Dec;9(5):234-42. doi: 10.1513/pats.201208-057ST.
Guideline funding and conflicts of interest: article 4 in Integrating and
coordinating efforts in COPD guideline development. An official ATS/ERS workshop
report.
Boyd EA, Akl EA, Baumann M, Curtis JR, Field MJ, Jaeschke R, Osborne M,
Schünemann HJ; ATS/ERS Ad Hoc Committee on Integrating and Coordinating Efforts
in COPD Guideline Development.
INTRODUCTION: Professional societies, like many other organizations around the
world, have recognized the need to use more rigorous processes to ensure that
healthcare recommendations are informed by the best available research evidence.
This is the fourth of a series of 14 articles prepared to advise guideline
developers in respiratory and other disease. It focuses on commercial funding of
guidelines and managing conflict of interest effectively in the context of
guidelines.
METHODS: In this review, we addressed the following topics and questions. (1) How
are clinical practice guidelines funded? (2) What are the risks associated with
commercial sponsorship of guidelines? (3) What relationships should guideline
committee members be required to disclose? (4) What is the most efficient way to
obtain complete and accurate disclosures? (5) How should disclosures be publicly
shared? (6) When do relationships require management? (7) How should individual
conflicts of interest be managed? (8) How could conflict of interest policies be
enforced? The literature review included a search of PubMed and other databases
for existing systematic reviews and relevant methodological research. Our
conclusions are based on available evidence, consideration of what guideline
developers are doing, and workshop discussions.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Professional societies often depend on industry funding
to support clinical practice guideline development. In addition, members of
guideline committees frequently have financial relationships with commercial
entities, are invested in their intellectual work, or have conflicts related to
clinical revenue streams. No systematic reviews or other rigorous evidence
regarding best practices for funding models, disclosure mechanisms, management
strategies, or enforcement presently exist, but the panel drew several
conclusions that could improve transparency and process.
PMID: 23256165 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
14. J Healthc Risk Manag. 2012;32(2):29-36. doi: 10.1002/jhrm.21092.
Professional collaboration to achieve FASHRM and DFASHRM recognition.
Bunting RF Jr(1), Benton J.
Author information:
(1)Walden University, College of Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences.
Members of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) are
undeniably talented. They also share a spirit of volunteerism. Two ASHRM
committees are fostering further member collaboration to provide individual
growth, enhance educational offerings for members, and strengthen the
organization's journal. Though 26% of ASHRM members have attained the CPHRM
credential, only 2.5% of ASHRM members have attained a fellow designation.
Primary barriers to attaining a fellow designation are the requirements for
continuing education and contributions to the risk management field. The
organization's Journal Editorial Review Board, in concert with its Annual
Conference & Exhibition Committee, encourages members to explore opportunities to
write for the Journal, speak at the annual conference, and attain one of the
organization's professional designations. In addition, the Barton Certificate
Program in Healthcare Risk Management promotes professional development with
sessions taught on this topic for new and experienced risk managers.
© 2012 American Society for Healthcare Risk Management of the American Hospital
Association.
PMID: 22996429 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2012 Aug 28;12:16. doi: 10.1186/1472-698X-12-16.
National health financing policy in Eritrea: a survey of preliminary
considerations.
Kirigia JM(1), Zere E, Akazili J.
Author information:
(1)World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo.
kirigiaj@afro.who.int.
BACKGROUND: The 58th World Health Assembly and 56th WHO Regional Committee for
Africa adopted resolutions urging Member States to ensure that health financing
systems included a method for prepayment to foster financial risk sharing among
the population and avoid catastrophic health-care expenditure. The Regional
Committee asked countries to strengthen or develop comprehensive health financing
policies. This paper presents the findings of a survey conducted among senior
staff of selected Eritrean ministries and agencies to elicit views on some of the
elements likely to be part of a national health financing policy.
METHODS: This is a descriptive study. A questionnaire was prepared and sent to 19
senior staff (Directors) in the Ministry of Health, Labour Department, Civil
Service Administration, Eritrean Confederation of Workers, National Insurance
Corporation of Eritrea and Ministry of Local Government. The respondents were
selected by the Ministry of Health as key informants.
RESULTS: The key findings were as follows: the response rate was 84.2% (16/19);
37.5% (6/16) and 18.8% said that the vision of Eritrean National Health Financing
Policy (NHFP) should include the phrases 'equitable and accessible quality health
services' and 'improve efficiency or reduce waste' respectively; over 68%
indicated that NHFP should include securing adequate funding, ensuring
efficiency, ensuring equitable financial access, protection from financial
catastrophe, and ensuring provider payment mechanisms create positive incentives
to service providers; over 80% mentioned community participation, efficiency,
transparency, country ownership, equity in access, and evidence-based decision
making as core values of NHFP; over 62.5% confirmed that NHFP components should
consist of stewardship (oversight), revenue collection, revenue pooling and risk
management, resource allocation and purchasing of health services, health
economics research, and development of human resources for health; over 68.8%
indicated cost-sharing, taxation and social health insurance as preferred revenue
collection mechanisms; and 68.75% indicated their preferred provider payment
mechanism to be a global (lump sum) budget.
CONCLUSION: This study succeeded in gathering the preliminary views of senior
staff of selected Eritrean ministries and agencies regarding the likely elements
of the NHFP, i.e. the vision, objectives, components, provider payment
mechanisms, and health financing agency and its governance. In addition to
stakeholder surveys, it would be helpful to inform the development of the NHFP
with other pieces of evidence, including cost-effectiveness analysis of health
services and interventions, financial feasibility analysis of financing options,
a survey of the political and professional acceptability of financing options,
national health accounts, and equity analyses.
PMCID: PMC3517356
PMID: 22929308 [PubMed]