Attitudes and practices of public health academics towards research funding from for-profit organizations: cross-sectional survey

Rima Nakkash (), Ahmed Ali (), Hala Alaouie (), Khalil Asmar (), Norbert Hirschhorn (), Sanaa Mugharbil (), Iman Nuwayhid (), Leslie London (), Amina Saban (), Sabina Faiz Rashid (), Md Koushik Ahmed (), Cecile Knai (), Charlotte Bigland () and Rima A. Afifi ()
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Rima Nakkash: American University of Beirut
Ahmed Ali: American University of Beirut
Hala Alaouie: American University of Beirut
Khalil Asmar: American University of Beirut
Norbert Hirschhorn: Independent Consultant
Sanaa Mugharbil: American University of Beirut
Iman Nuwayhid: American University of Beirut
Leslie London: University of Cape Town
Amina Saban: University of Cape Town
Sabina Faiz Rashid: BRAC University
Md Koushik Ahmed: BRAC University
Cecile Knai: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Charlotte Bigland: Health Education England
Rima A. Afifi: University of Iowa

International Journal of Public Health, 2020, vol. 65, issue 7, No 16, 1133-1145

Abstract: Abstract Objectives The growing trend of for-profit organization (FPO)-funded university research is concerning because resultant potential conflicts of interest might lead to biases in methods, results, and interpretation. For public health academic programmes, receiving funds from FPOs whose products have negative health implications may be particularly problematic. Methods A cross-sectional survey assessed attitudes and practices of public health academics towards accepting funding from FPOs. The sampling frame included universities in five world regions offering a graduate degree in public health; 166 academics responded. Descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results Over half of respondents were in favour of accepting funding from FPOs; attitudes differed by world region and gender but not by rank, contract status, % salary offset required, primary identity, or exposure to an ethics course. In the last 5 years, almost 20% of respondents had received funding from a FPO. Sixty per cent of respondents agreed that there was potential for bias in seven aspects of the research process, when funds were from FPOs. Conclusions Globally, public health academics should increase dialogue around the potential harms of research and practice funded by FPOs.

Keywords: For-profit corporation; Public health; Funding; Conflict of interest; Commercial determinants of health; Unhealthy commodity industries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-020-01416-0

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