Why do health services researchers and health policy analysts need to be concerned about conflicts of interest?
Health services researchers and health policy analysts will inevitably be faced with conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest can easily occur in the current research environment where research endeavors are increasingly commercial, take place in a variety of settings, involve various stakeholders, often draw on multiple funding sources, and involve judgment where bias and passions can affect data. Conflicts can also occur when research touches upon topics in which the individual has taken a strong policy or advocacy position. Conflicts of interest that arise can threaten the integrity and credibility of the research, researchers, funders and the fields as a whole. As such, it is important that researchers can identify conflicts of interest and know how to manage them when they do arise.
Health services researchers and health policy analysts will inevitably be faced with conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest can easily occur in the current research environment where research endeavors are increasingly commercial, take place in a variety of settings, involve various stakeholders, often draw on multiple funding sources, and involve judgment where bias and passions can affect data. Conflicts can also occur when research touches upon topics in which the individual has taken a strong policy or advocacy position. Conflicts of interest that arise can threaten the integrity and credibility of the research, researchers, funders and the fields as a whole. As such, it is important that researchers can identify conflicts of interest and know how to manage them when they do arise.
