Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Medical journals’ conflicts of interest in the publication of book reviews

  • Published:
Science and Engineering Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess medical journals’ conflicts of interest in the publication of book reviews. We examined book reviews published in 1999, 2000, and 2001 (N=1,876) in five leading medical journals: Annals of Internal Medicine, British Medical Journal (BMJ), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Lancet, and New England Journal of Medicine. The main outcome measure was journal publication of reviews of books that had been published by the journal’s own publisher, that had been edited or authored by a lead editor of the journal, or that posed another conflict of interest. We also surveyed the editors-in-chief of the five journals about their policies on these conflicts of interests. During the study period, four of the five journals published 30 book reviews presenting a conflict of interest: nineteen by the BMJ, five by the Annals, four by JAMA, and two by the Lancet. These reviews represent 5.8%, 2.7%, 0.7%, and 0.7%, respectively, of all book reviews published by the journals. These four journals, respectively, published reviews of 11.9%, 25.0%, 0.9%, and 1.0% of all medical books published by the journals’ publishers. Only one of the 30 book reviews included a disclosure statement addressing the conflict of interest. None of the journals had a written policy pertaining to the conflicts of interest assessed in this study, although four reported having unwritten policies. We recommend that scientific journals and associations representing journal editors develop policies on conflicts of interest pertaining to book reviews.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Davidoff F., DeAngelis C.D., Drazen J.M., Hoey J., Højgaard L., Horton R., Kotzin S., Nicholls M.G., Nylenna M., Overbeke A.J.P.M., Sox H.C., Van Der Weyden M.B., and Wilkes M.S. (2001) Sponsorship, authorship, and accountability. JAMA 286: 1232–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. DeAngelis C.D. (2000) Conflict of interest and the public trust. JAMA 284: 2237–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Smith R. (1998) Beyond conflict of interest. BMJ 317: 291–2.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Horton R. (1997) Conflicts of interest in clinical research: opprobrium or obsession? Lancet 349: 1112–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Drazen J.M. and Koski G. (2000) To protect those who serve. New England Journal of Medicine 343: 1643–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Coyle S.L. for the Ethics and Human Rights Committee, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine. (2002) Physician-industry relation. Part 2: Organizational issues. Annals of Internal Medicine 136: 403–6.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Drazen J.M. and Curfman G.D. (2002) Financial associations of authors. New England Journal of Medicine 346: 1901–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Rennie D. (1993) Smoke and letters. JAMA 270: 1742–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bero L.A., Galbraith A., and Rennie D. (1992) The publication of sponsored symposiums in medical journals. New England Journal of Medicine 327: 1135–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Rennie D. (2002) Fourth International Congress on Peer Review in Biomedical Publication. JAMA 287: 2759–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Huth E.J. (1999) Review of Medical Meanings: A Glossary of Word Origins (authored by W.S. Haubrich, published by the American College of Physicians). Annals of Internal Medicine 130: 623–4.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Steingart R.M. (1999) Review of Coronary Artery Disease in Women: What All Physicians Need to Know (authored by P. Charney, published by the American College of Physicians). Annals of Internal Medicine 131: 872.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Condemi J.J. (2000) Review of Expert Guide to Allergy and Immunology (authored by R.G. Slavin and R.E. Reisman, published by the American College of Physicians). Annals of Internal Medicine 132: 683.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Eisen A. (2001) Review of Expert Guide to Oncology (authored by J.D. Bitran, published by the American College of Physicians). Annals of Internal Medicine 134: 168.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sherer R. (2001) Review of HIV (authored by H. Libman and H.J. Makadon, published by the American College of Physicians). Annals of Internal Medicine 134: 1158.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bosanquet N. (1999) Review of Our NHS: A Celebration of 50 Years (edited by Gordon Macpherson, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 318: 1563.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Donner-Banzhoff N. (1999) Review of Evidence Based Practice in Primary Care (edited by Chris Silagy and Andrew Haines, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 318: 1706.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Keirse M.J.N.C. (1999) Review of Hypertension in Pregnancy (authored by David Churchill and D. Gareth Beevers, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 319: 325.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Barker I. (1999) Review of Intensive Care Medicine (edited by Julian F. Bion, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 319: 927.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bhaskarabhatla V.M.K. (1999) Review of Sports Medicine Handbook (edited by Roger G. Hackney and Angus Wallace, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 319: 1582.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Barker I. (2000) Review of Pre-hospital Paediatric Life Support (edited by F. Jewkes, P. Lubas, and K. McCusker; published by BMJ Books), BMJ 320: 66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Thurlbeck S. (2000) Review of Growing up in Britain: Ensuring a Healthy Future for Our Children (authored and published by the British Medical Association). BMJ 320: 809.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Pasternak A. (2000) Review of The Benefits and Hazards of Exercise (edited by Domhnall MacAuley, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 320: 1082.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Hammer H.F. and Eherer A. (2000) Review of Evidence Based Gastroenterology and Hepatology (edited by John McDonald, Brian Feagan, and Andrew Burroughs; published by BMJ Books). BMJ 320: 1215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hart Y. (2000) Review of Neurology and Medicine (edited by R.A.C. Hughes and G.D. Perkin, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 320: 1281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Berden B. (2000) Review of Resuscitation Rules (authored by Tim Hodgetts and Nick Castle, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 320: 1545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Maisonneuve H. (2000) Review of Peer Review in Health Sciences (edited by Fiona Godlee and Tom Jefferson, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 320: 1546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Cohen A.T. (2000) Review of Respiratory Support in Intensive Care (edited by Keith Sykes and J.D. Young, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 321: 182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Williams J. (2000) Review of A-Z of Medical Writing (authored by Tim Albert, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 321: 1231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Brewster D. (2000) Review of The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health at the Millennium (authored by J. Osborne, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 321: 1417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Fatovich D. (2001) Review of Acute Medical Emergencies: The Practical Approach (authored by the Advanced Life Support Group, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 322: 802.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Gabbay M. (2001) Review of Condoms (edited by Adrian Mindel, published by BMJ Books). BMJ 332: 1253.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Firlik A.D. (2001) Essays (review of A Piece of My Mind: A New Collection of Essays from JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association, edited by Roxanne K. Young, published by AMA Press). JAMA 286: 726.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. McNamee D. (2001) Adverse drug-reactions update (review of Side Effects of Drugs Annual 23, edited by J.K. Aronson, published by Elsevier Science). Lancet 357: 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Bignall J. (2001) Cardiac imaging (review of The Shape of the Heart, authored by Pierre J. Vinken, published by Elsevier Science). Lancet 358: 934.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Galofré A. (2000) Education (review of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Curriculum for the Twenty-first Century, edited by Catherine D. DeAngelis, published by Johns Hopkins University Press). JAMA 283: 1212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Friedman A.D. (2000) Pediatrics (review of Oski’s Pediatrics, edited by Julia A. McMillan, Catherine D. DeAngelis, Ralph Feigin, and Joseph B. Warshaw; published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins). JAMA 283: 2170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Gillies J. (2000) Review of The Magic Bullet and Other Medical Stories (edited by Stefan Slater, Robin Downie, Giles Gordon, and Richard Smith; published by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow). BMJ 320: 520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Szebik I. (2000) Review of Human Genetics—Choice and Responsibility (authored by the British Medical Association, published by Oxford University Press). BMJ 321: 1086.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Liveson J. (1999) Poetry (review of Uncharted Lines: Poems from the Journal of the American Medical Association, edited by Charlene Breedlove, published by Boaz Publishing Company). JAMA 282: 195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. (2003) Separate statements. http://www.icmje.org/index.html#conflict (accessed September 26, 2003)

  42. World Association of Medical Editors. (2003) WAME policy statements. http://www.wame.org/wamestmt.htm (accessed September 26, 2003).

  43. Council of Science Editors. (2003) Editorial policy statements approved by the CSE Board of Directors. http://www.councilscienceeditors.org/services/draft_approved.cfm (accessed September 26, 2003)

  44. Summerfield D. (2000) Review of Humanitarian Crises: The Medical and Public Health Response (edited by Jennifer Leaning, Susan M. Briggs, and Lincoln C. Chen; published by Harvard University Press). BMJ 320: 1216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Rothman D.J. (2001) Review of Severed Trust: Why American Medicine Hasn’t Been Fixed (authored by George D. Lundberg with James Stacey, published by Basic Books). JAMA 286: 2604–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Mabe C. (2003). Paper pulls negative review of star writer’s novel. Orlando Sun-Sentinel (Sept. 27). http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/search/sfl-albom27sep27,1,2617219.story

  47. Hutton C.L. (2003). Mitch Albom’s book: Decision to kill review a tough, but right one. Detroit Free Press 3K (October 5). http://www.freep.com/voices/columnists/ecal5_20031005.htm

  48. Curfman G.D. and Drazen J.M. (2001) Too close to call. New England Journal of Medicine 345: 832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Wennerås C. and Wold A. (1997) Nepotism and sexism in peer-review. Nature 387: 341–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Edwards G., Babor T.F., Hall W., and West R. (2002) Another mirror shattered? Tobacco industry involvement suspected in a book which claims that nicotine is not addictive. Addiction 97: 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Panwalker A. (2003) Bioterrorism (review of Bioterrorism: Guidelines for Medical and Public Health Management, edited by Donald A. Henderson, Thomas V. Inglesby, and Tara O’Toole; published by AMA Press and JAMA & Archives Journals). JAMA 289: 1571.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. van de Leuv J. (2003) Bioterrorism (review of Bioterrorism Simulator (CD-ROM), by Howard A. Schwid, Jeff Duchin, Jennifer K. Brennan, Kenichiro Taneda, Ben H. Boedeker, and Amitai Ziv; published by Anesoft). JAMA 289: 1574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. AMA Press and JAMA & Archives Journals. (2003) Are you prepared for Bioterrorism? The only source for peer-reviewed guidelines. The most credible and up-to-date guide (advertisement). JAMA 289: 1588.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Satya-Murti S. (2002) Evidence-based practice (review of Users’ Guides to the Medical Literature: Essentials of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice and Users’ Guides to the Medical Literature: Manual for Evidence-Based Clinical Practice, edited by Gordon Guyatt and Drummond Rennie; published by AMA Press and JAMA & Archives Journals). JAMA 287: 1464–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. AMA Press and JAMA & Archives Journals. (2002) Navigating the medical literature to improve patient care (advertisement). JAMA 287: 1247.

    Google Scholar 

  56. AMA Press and JAMA & Archives Journals. (2003) Need help navigating the medical literature to improve patient care? (advertisement). JAMA 290: 1286.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Henry Ford Health System, One Ford Place, 5C, 48202-3450, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Ronald M. Davis MD (Director)

  2. Department of Family Medicine, Wayne State University, 101 E. Alexandrine, Room 241, 48201, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Anne Victoria Neale PhD, MPH (Associate Professor) & Joseph C. Monsur (Research Assistant)

Authors
  1. Ronald M. Davis MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anne Victoria Neale PhD, MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joseph C. Monsur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ronald M. Davis MD, Anne Victoria Neale PhD, MPH or Joseph C. Monsur.

Additional information

Disclosure: R.M. Davis was North American editor of the BMJ from 1998 to 2001, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association, which publishes JAMA. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of any organization with which the authors have been affiliated.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Davis, R.M., Neale, A.V. & Monsur, J.C. Medical journals’ conflicts of interest in the publication of book reviews. SCI ENG ETHICS 9, 471–483 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-003-0045-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-003-0045-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation