PARSIPPANY, NJ--(Marketwire - April 27, 2010) - CommonHealth announced today its HLS Publications group presented the findings of a survey-based study that assessed awareness and attitudes about authorship guidelines and policies regarding the conduct and ethical communication of clinical trials. The abstract detailing the findings was submitted to ISMPP (International Society of Medical Publication Professionals) and was presented on podium at ISMPP's 6th annual meeting on April 21 in Arlington, VA.
CommonHealth (www.commonhealth.com) is the world's leading healthcare-communications network and a WPP (
CommonHealth, through its HLS Publications group, created an independent study to address the ongoing confusion regarding authorship, transparency and the role of technical writers and editors from medical education groups in developing peer-reviewed publications. The conclusions of the study, presented at the ISMPP convention, were as follows:
- Most clinicians, academicians and pharmaceutical sponsors have a broad understanding of what ghostwriting is and isn't
- There is a subset of clinicians/academicians who carry distinctly negative opinions regarding the motivations behind the use of medical writers
- Among clinicians and academicians, awareness and utilization of authorship guidelines are limited
- Authors, journal editors, pharmaceutical sponsors and medical communications groups are all responsible for ensuring ethical, transparent publications
- Pharmaceutical sponsors and affiliated medical communications agencies are best prepared to implement policies and procedures to ensure transparency
HLS president Mary Anderson explained the significance of these findings, saying, "Medical publications is a fast-evolving discipline, and we consider it our responsibility as leaders in the category to continually monitor and understand the evolving perceptions and attitudes and build approaches and tools to improve our service to clients. This survey is an example of the investment we will continue to make for the benefit of our clients and the advancement of medical publishing."
For more information regarding the presentation, the survey findings or publications planning, Mary Anderson can be reached at manderson@commonhealth.com.
CommonHealth comprises HLS, Altum, Carbon, CommonHealth Kyowa, Conectics, Earthborn, EvoLogue, Ferguson, MBS/Vox, ProCom, Qi, Solara and Valos. The organization also maintains numerous partnerships both within and outside of the WPP network of companies.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Beth Paulino
or
Kerianne Slattery
CommonHealth
973 352 1000 tel