Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Policy and Form Health and Science Policy and Quality Improvement
Purpose
The intent of disclosure of any potential conflict of interest is to ensure that the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) standards provide a balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous product. The ACCP requires each panel or committee member, reviewer, and other participants, who will provide content or methodologic expertise, to disclose all information regarding any possible conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.
In your potential role as a participant, author, or reviewer, the ACCP requires full disclosure of all possible conflicts of interest. Note that disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is part of the process to eliminate bias and ensure transparency of the process. Disclosing potential conflicts does not necessarily disqualify you as a participant.
Who must complete this form?
Panel or committee members, panelists, authors, reviewers, and other participants all are required to disclose relationships with a commercial interest if that relationship occurred within the past 36 months and involves you or your spouse or partner.
What do I have to consider when I complete this form?
The ACCP defines any relevant financial relationship to be a potential conflict when the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honorarium, ownership interest (eg, stocks, stock options, or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles, such as employment, management, work as an independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking, teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. There is no set minimum dollar amount for financial relationships to be considered significant; therefore, any amount could be considered an incentive to maintain or increase the value of a possible commercial entity. The ACCP Health and Science Policy (HSP) Committee and Quality Improvement Committee (QIC) consider relationships also to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.
Who reviews this completed form?
Either the ACCP HSP or QIC Policy & Procedures Subcommittee will review this form. The results of this review will be presented to the ACCP HSP or QIC Committees for a final decision as to whether a conflict of interest exists and whether it can be managed.
Additional Disclosure Information
Refusal to disclose to the ACCP any identified conflicts of interest means that you relinquish your ability to participate in this guideline, committee, or project.
If a potential conflict of interest develops after you complete this agreement, but occurs before your committee membership or project assignment is completed, you must inform the ACCP HSP or QIC staff member or project manager immediately.
Your name typed below, along with the submission of this form, will be accepted as your electronic signature.
Guideline Ranking & Disclaimer
Rank | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1 | This guideline is new and represents the best available evidence at this time. It will be reviewed on an annual basis to determine if it remains current. |
| 2 | This guideline is reviewed on an annual basis and there have been new studies published since the guideline was developed. However, the Health and Science Policy (HSP) Committee determined that these studies are not sufficient to warrant changing the guideline at this time. The information contained in this guideline provides the user with the best evidence available at the time the guideline was published. Readers are encouraged to search the current literature as a supplement to using this guideline. |
| 3 | This guideline is reviewed on an annual basis. The HSP Committee determined that new studies have been published that warrant an update of the (fill in) chapter/section of this practice guideline. The HSP Committee also determined that the remainder of the chapters/sections does not require updating and these recommendations remain current. |
| 4 | This guideline is reviewed on an annual basis. The HSP Committee determined that new data are available that are sufficient to potentially change guideline recommendations and a full revision is warranted. |
| 5 | This guideline has been reviewed on an annual basis. The HSP Committee has decided it is outdated; however, it has been retained for historical and/or educational purposes. These guidelines should be used with caution for clinical decision-making purposes. |
The evidence-based practice guidelines published by The American College of Chest Physicians (“ACCP”) incorporate data obtained from a comprehensive literature review of the most recent studies available at the time of publication. Guidelines are intended for general information only, are not medical advice, and do not replace professional medical care and physician advice, which always should be sought for any specific condition. Furthermore, guidelines may not be complete or accurate because new studies that may have become available late in the process of guideline development may not be incorporated into any particular guideline before it is disseminated. ACCP and its officers, regents, governors, executive committee, members and employees (the “ACCP Parties”) disclaim all liability for the accuracy or completeness of a guideline, and disclaim all warranties, express or implied. Guideline users always are urged to seek out newer information that might impact the diagnostic and treatment recommendations contained within a guideline. The ACCP Parties further disclaim all liability for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages) arising out of the use, inability to use, or the results of use of a guideline, any references used in a guideline, or the materials, information, or procedures contained in a guideline, based on any legal theory whatsoever and whether or not there was advice of the possibility of such damages.
