title: Physician compensation for industry-sponsored clinical trials in multiple sclerosis influences patient trust.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perceived physician financial conflicts of interest of can affect patient trust. Payment to physicians for industry sponsored clinical trials in multiple sclerosis is a relatively new potential source of physician conflict of interest. There is limited available data on how physician payment for trial involvement in multiple sclerosis clinical trials may influence patient trust.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand how patient trust is influenced by information about physician payment for multiple sclerosis clinical trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous online instrument was developed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  597 people with multiple sclerosis participated in the study. The study found that 61% of patients who had not previously participated in a clinical trial estimated that they would have lower levels of trust in their physician if the physician was paid for involvement in their clinical trial. Among former clinical trial participants, 38% self-reported a lower level of trust. Other potential physician-industry relationships, such as industry consulting or giving industry-sponsored talks, also adversely affected trust, though to a lesser extent than physician payment for subject participation in clinical trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study demonstrate that physician payment for study participation in multiple sclerosis clinical trials is a potential conflict that can adversely affect patient trust.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Portland VA Medical Center, United States; Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, United States; Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering and Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, United States. Electronic address: kleine@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont, United States.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado, United States.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corboy
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, United States.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernat
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D016265:Conflict of Interest / Q000191:economics; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000191:economics*; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Clinical trials; Conflict of interest; Industry-sponsored clinical trials; Multiple sclerosis; Professional conduct and ethics; Trust