Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26769777›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2016

Proliferation of gynaecological scientific societies and their financial transparency: an Italian survey.

Paolo Vercellini, Paola Viganò, Maria Pina Frattaruolo, Edgardo Somigliana

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Paolo VercelliniDepartment of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy Center for Research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Milan, Italy.
Paola ViganòCenter for Research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Milan, Italy Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
Maria Pina FrattaruoloDepartment of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy Center for Research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Milan, Italy.
Edgardo SomiglianaCenter for Research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Milan, Italy Infertility Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo determine the number of Italian obstetrical and gynaecological societies, and to ascertain their financial transparency.

designInternet-based national survey and website content analysis.

participantsCurrently active, not privately owned, non-religious, apolitical, obstetrical and gynaecological associations.

methodsFrom October 2014 to June 2015, scientific societies were identified using combinations of search terms, and examining the website of the two main Italian obstetrical and gynaecological organisations. Individual societies' websites were scrutinised by two independent investigators. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of Italian obstetrical and gynaecological associations and its variation over time; 12 information categories defining the general characteristics of the societies and their websites, and the financial transparency of the associations.

resultsThe initial web search yielded 56 professional obstetrical and gynaecological associations but nine were excluded for various reasons. Of the remaining 47 professional associations, 17 covered both obstetrics and gynaecology, four were specialised in obstetrics, 26 in gynaecology and 46 provided continuing medical education (CME) activities. The number of societies has quadrupled in the last 35 years, increasing at a mean rate of one additional society per year. The headquarters of the associations were located in the offices of a professional congress organiser in 15 instances, and advertisements or links to industry products were present in 12 societies' websites. Bylaws were accessible in 32 websites. No information was publicly available regarding competing interests, financial statements and quantitative external funding.

conclusionsThe number of obstetrical and gynaecological societies is remarkably high in Italy, particularly in the gynaecological area. Despite CME activity provision, transparency of societies regarding financial issues and competing interests was almost non-existent. Policies addressing the interactions between medical associations and industry are available and should be implemented.

Indexed as

DisclosureFinancial SupportGynecologyConflict of InterestDrug IndustryFemaleHumansItalyObstetricsSocieties, ScientificSurveys and QuestionnairesCOMPETING INTERESTSGYNAECOLOGYOBSTETRICSSCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

Identifiers

PMID26769777
PMCPMC4735216

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.