title: Content Integrity, Conflict of Interest, and Commercial Support: Defining and Operationalizing the Terms.
abstract: One of the hallmarks of quality continuing education developed using accreditation criteria is content integrity. Components of content integrity include identifying, resolving, and disclosing conflict of interest; ensuring content is based on the best available evidence; managing commercial support (if applicable); and presenting the educational activity free of promotion or bias. This article explores content integrity, conflict of interest, and commercial support. Understanding and being able to operationalize these concepts will enable providers to offer high-quality educational activities that promote the professional development of nurses and/or improve the quality of patient care.
authors.affiliation: Pam Dickerson, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, is Director of Continuing Education for the Montana Nurses Association, Montana City. Kathy Chappell, PhD, RN, is Vice President of Accreditation and the Institute for Credentialing Research, American Nurses Credentialing Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chappell
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D016265:Conflict of Interest / Q000191:economics; D030881:Disclosure / Q000941:ethics; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D013192:Staff Development