Bias in the evaluation of conflict of interest policies.
Physicians are affected by the conflict of interest (COI) policies they help formulate. This study examines whether physicians evaluate these policies impartially. One hundred and seventy-nine physicians, 224 financial advisors, and 1,430 members of the general public evaluated the fairness and efficacy of a COI policy in either a medical or financial context. Physicians were more critical of the medical COI policy compared to a financial COI policy, while financial professionals displayed the reverse pattern and control respondents rated both policies similarly. This suggests a bias against COI policies by those who will be directly affected.
Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, USA.
Zachariah
Z
Sharek
Robert E
RE
Schoen
George
G
Loewenstein
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D004991:Ethics, Institutional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010820:Physicians; D011050:Policy Making; D014481:United States