Food Industry Donations to Academic Programs: A Cross-Sectional Examination of the Extent of Publicly Available Data

No studies have documented the prevalence of the food industry’s funding of academic programs, which is problematic because such funding can create conflicts of interest in research and clinical practice. We aimed to quantify the publicly available information on the food industry’s donations to academic programs by documenting the amount of donations given over time, categorizing the types of academic programs that receive food industry donations, cataloguing the source of the donation information, and identifying any stated reasons for donations. Researchers cataloged online data from publicly available sources (e.g., official press releases, news articles, tax documents) on the food industry’s donations to academic programs from 2000 to 2016. Companies included 26 food and beverage corporations from the 2016 Fortune 500 list in the United States. Researchers recorded the: (1) monetary value of the donations; (2) years the donations were distributed; (3) the name and type of recipient; (4) source of donation information; and (5) reasons for donations. Adjusting for inflation, we identified $366 million in food industry donations (N = 3274) to academic programs. Universities received 45.2% (n = 1480) of donations but accounted for 67.9% of total dollars given in the sample. Community colleges, schools (i.e., preschool, elementary, middle, and high schools), and academic nonprofits, institutes, foundations, and research hospitals collectively received 54.8% of the donations, but made up less than one-third of the monetary value of donations. Half of the donations (49.0%) did not include a stated reason for the donation. In our sample, donations grew from $3 million in 2000 to $24 million in 2016. Food companies in our sample donated millions of dollars to universities and other academic programs but disclosed little information on the purpose of the donations. Achieving transparency in donation practices may only be possible if federal policies begin to require disclosures or if companies voluntarily disclose information.

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Food Bank Donations in the United States: A Landscape Review of Federal Policies

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12123764 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 3764

Author(s):

Katelin M. Hudak ◽

Emily Friedman ◽

Joelle Johnson ◽

Sara E. Benjamin-Neelon

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Nutritional Quality ◽

Food System ◽

The United States ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Food Banks ◽

Food Bank ◽

Federal Policies ◽

Food And Beverage

Rates of food insecurity have increased substantially in the United States (US), and more families are turning to the charitable food system to help meet their needs. Prior studies have examined the nutritional quality of foods offered through food banks, but little is known about what government policies may shape the healthy food donation landscape. The purpose of this study was to review US federal policies that impact food and beverage donations to food banks and assess whether policies encourage healthy food donations. In spring 2020, two researchers independently reviewed federal food and beverage donation policies using predefined search terms in two legal databases. We identified six categories of policies based on the existing food donation literature and themes that emerged in the policy review. We identified 42 federal policies spanning six categories that addressed food and beverage donations to food banks. The largest category was “government programs,” with 19 (45%) policies. The next largest category was “donation via schools,” with 12 (29%) policies. However, no policies specifically addressed the nutritional quality of food donations. There is an opportunity for the federal government to strengthen food bank donation policies and improve the nutritional quality of donated foods and beverages.

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Financial relationships between neurologists and industry

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000007640 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 92 (21) ◽

pp. 1006-1013 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aditi Ahlawat ◽

Pushpa Narayanaswami

Keyword(s):

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

The United States ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Regional Trends ◽

Food And Beverage ◽

Data Book ◽

Retrospective Database Analysis ◽

Incorrect Information ◽

Open Payments ◽

Retrospective Database

ObjectiveTo analyze research and nonresearch payments from the pharmaceutical and device industry to neurologists in 2015 using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments Database.MethodsIn this retrospective database analysis, we computed the percentage of neurologists in the United States receiving payments, the median/mean payments per neurologist, payment categories, regional trends, and sponsors. We computed the number of practicing neurologists from the Association of American Medical Colleges State Physician Workforce Data Book, 2015.ResultsIn 2015, approximately 96% of US neurologists received nonresearch payments totaling $93,920,993. The median payment per physician was $407. The highest proportion of neurologists (24%) received between $1,000 and $10,000. Food and beverage was the most frequent category (83% of the total number of payments). The highest amount was paid for serving as faculty/speaker for noncontinuing medical education activities (49%). The top sponsor of nonresearch payments was Teva Pharmaceuticals ($16,461,055; 17.5%). A total of 412 neurologists received $2,921,611 in research payments (median $1,132). Multiple sclerosis specialists received the largest proportion ($285,537; 9.7%). Daiichi Sankyo paid the largest amount in research payments ($826,029; 28%).ConclusionsThe Open Payments program was established to foster transparent disclosure of physician compensations from industry, in response to legislative and public concerns of the effect of conflicts of interest on practice, education, and research. The effects of this program remain unclear and studies of changes in prescribing practices, costs, and other outcomes are necessary. CMS should ensure that incorrect information can be rectified quickly and easily.

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Mining for Untapped Talent and Overcoming Challenges to Diversity in Higher Education: Evidence for Inclusive Academic Programs

Higher Education Studies ◽

10.5539/hes.v10n4p131 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 131

Author(s):

Joseph M. Green ◽

Koren A. Bedeau

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Low Income ◽

Opportunity To Learn ◽

The United States ◽

Academic Programs ◽

Student Diversity ◽

Underrepresented Minority ◽

Federal Policies ◽

Academic Enrichment

The aim of this study is to examine and explore factors that impact the successful growth of student diversity at colleges and universities in the United States of America. Special emphasis is placed on America’s five decade struggle since the 1970s to increase college access and success for underserved youth. The paper reviews select federal policies and collaborative efforts by higher education institutions to diversify the population of college students, toward realizing the potential of untapped talent. In addition, the authors review and examine statistics and trends in graduation rates for undergraduate students from First-Generation (FG), Underrepresented Minority (URM) and/or Low-Income (LI) backgrounds, and highlight programs at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI) that have demonstrated improvements in graduating URM undergraduate students. Likewise, the study describes initiatives that have attempted to address the graduation gap in higher education. Readers will have an opportunity to learn about the premier national program promoting diversity and academic achievement. The study closes with a discussion and evidence for continued national interest and attention to building successful academic enrichment, support, and achievement programs for students from diverse backgrounds.

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Streamlined data-gathering techniques to estimate the price and affordability of healthy and unhealthy diets under different pricing scenarios

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020001718 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christina Zorbas ◽

Amanda Lee ◽

Anna Peeters ◽

Meron Lewis ◽

Timothy Landrigan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fast Food ◽

Data Gathering ◽

Poverty Line ◽

Online Data ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Phone Calls ◽

Healthy Diets ◽

Food And Beverage ◽

Human Participants ◽

Household Incomes

AbstractObjective:To determine the reliability of streamlined data-gathering techniques for examining the price and affordability of a healthy (recommended) and unhealthy (current) diet. We additionally estimated the price and affordability of diets across socio-economic areas and quantified the influence of different pricing scenarios.Design:Following the Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing (ASAP) protocol, we compared a cross-sectional sample of food and beverage pricing data collected using online data and phone calls (lower-resource streamlined techniques) with data collected in-store from the same retailers.Setting:Food and beverage prices were collected from major supermarkets, fast food and alcohol retailers in eight conveniently sampled areas in Victoria, Australia (n 72 stores), stratified by area-level deprivation and remoteness.Participants:This study did not involve human participants.Results:The biweekly price of a healthy diet was on average 21 % cheaper ($596) than an unhealthy diet ($721) for a four-person family using the streamlined techniques, which was comparable with estimates using in-store data (healthy: $594, unhealthy: $731). The diet price differential did not vary considerably across geographical areas (range: 18–23 %). Both diets were estimated to be unaffordable for families living on indicative low disposable household incomes and below the poverty line. The inclusion of generic brands notably reduced the prices of healthy and unhealthy diets (≥20 %), rendering both affordable against indicative low disposable household incomes. Inclusion of discounted prices marginally reduced diet prices (3 %).Conclusions:Streamlined data-gathering techniques are a reliable method for regular, flexible and widespread monitoring of the price and affordability of population diets in areas where supermarkets have an online presence.

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A Prospective Multicenter Evaluation of the Value of the On-Call Orthopedic Resident

Journal of Graduate Medical Education ◽

10.4300/jgme-d-17-00277.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 91-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Benjamin Jackson ◽

Scott Vincent ◽

James Davies ◽

Kevin Phelps ◽

Chris Cornett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Orthopedic Surgery ◽

The United States ◽

Multicenter Cohort Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Average Percentage ◽

Average Value ◽

Monetary Value ◽

Medical Centers ◽

Academic Medical ◽

Cohort Study Design

ABSTRACT Background Funding for graduate medical education is at risk despite the services provided by residents. Objective We quantified the potential monetary value of services provided by on-call orthopedic surgery residents. Methods We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter cohort study design. Over a 90-day period in 2014, we collected data on consults by on-call orthopedic surgery residents at 4 tertiary academic medical centers in the United States. All inpatient and emergency department consults evaluated by first-call residents during the study period were eligible for inclusion. Based on their current procedural terminology codes, procedures and evaluations for each consult were assigned a relative value unit and converted into a monetary value to determine the value of services provided by residents. The primary outcome measures were the total dollar value of each consult and the percentage of resident salaries that could be funded by the generated value of the resident consult services. Results In total, 2644 consults seen by 33 residents from the 4 institutions were included for analysis. These yielded an average value of $81,868 per center for the 90-day study period, that is, $327,471 annually. With a median resident stipend of $53,992, the extrapolated average percentage of resident stipends that could be funded by these consult revenues was 73% of the stipends of the residents who took call or 36% of the stipends of the overall resident cohort. Conclusions The potential monetary value generated by on-call orthopedic surgery residents is substantial.

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Excess in Atherosclerotic and Inflammametabolic Diseases Are Differentially Expressed in Myelodysplasia and Are Highly Dependent on Age, R-IPSS and Ethnicity

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-120303 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 4855-4855

Author(s):

Gustavo A. Rivero ◽

Elias Perli ◽

Stephanie Moreno ◽

Jason L Salemi ◽

Jason L Salemi

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Major Depression ◽

Germ Line ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Prognostic Score ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Inflammatory Conditions

Abstract Background Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is an inflammatory heterogeneous group of myeloid disorders with variable risk for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) conversion. Recent reports highlight that mutations [i.e. TET2, DNMT3A, AXSL1] configurate not only risk for malignant conversion in "healthy elderly individuals" but also 'directly' participate in coronary artery disease [CAD] development. TET2 clonal hematopoiesis [TET2 CHIP] accelerates atherosclerosis in mice via monocytic inflammatory amplification. Indeed, germ-line DNMT3A human disease phenocopy obesity and neurocognitive abnormalities suggesting that a more complex, but still poorly characterized cardiometabolic risk, probably originates from patient predisposition and somatic mutation acquisition. We seek to originate a cross-sectional "proof of concept" for quantifying the association between myelodysplasia [a clonal disorder initiated by CHIP mutations] and several systemic inflammatory conditions [i.e. CAD, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), obesity, depression and COPD]. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of a nationally-representative sample of inpatient hospitalizations in the United States between 2007 and 2015 [750,249 MDS-related hospitalizations, or 83,361 hospitalizations per year] was performed to identify co-occurring inflammatory diseases during hospitalizations in patients older than 35 years, in which MDS was documented. Given the inflammatory nature of the disease, subgroups were defined to investigate the prevalence of individual inflammatory domains (per 1,000 MDS-related hospitalizations) according to Revised-International Prognostic Score System [R-IPSS]. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients based on age (above and below 65 years), and race/ethnicity. Prevalence and confidence intervals [CI] were obtained for each inflammatory condition. "Relevant" inflammatory domains were considered statistically significant based on non-overlapping 95% CIs. Results: In examined admissions, prevalence for CAD in (Low-risk) LR- MDS age <> 65 was 12.2 vs 24.7, PVD 21.8 vs 60.2, [Fig 1 A and B] obesity 88.1 vs 51.7, major depression 14.6 vs 5.3, COPD 42.1 vs 70.7, p=0.0001 for all comparisons [Fig 1 B and C]. Conversely, prevalence for CAD in (High-risk) HR MDS age <> 65 was 9.1 vs 17.3, p=0.04; PVD 14.5 vs 43.2, p=0001; obesity 73.7 vs 42.2, p=0.003 major depression 5.1 vs 6.9, p=0.04 and COPD 23.0 vs 34.6, p=0.05. Differential prevalence expression for CAD was observed between non-Hispanic Whites (W) and Hispanics (H) [22 vs 28, p=0.02]. PVD was more prevalent, in both W vs H [64.6 and 52.2, p= 0.0002] and NH-Blacks/African Americans (AA) vs H [63.1 vs 52.2, p= 0.009]. Obesity was more prevalent among AA and H [64.1 and 62.9, respectively] than in W [51.9, p=0.009 for W vs AA and p=0.0002 for W vs H]. Similar expression for diabetes was observed between H vs W [404 vs 282, p<0.0001], H vs AA [404 vs 364, p=0.0001], and AA vs W [364 vs 282, p=<0.0001]. COPD was dominant among W and AA [73.8 and 78.4] as compared with H [50.4, p=0.0001 for H vs W and H vs AA]. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was dominant in W and H [1.8 and 1.9] in comparison to AA [0.9, p=0.04 AA vs H and p=0.02 AA vs W]. Major depression prevalence was observed in AA, W and H in 5.4 vs 9.5 vs 14.3, respectively, p=0.0001 H vs AA and H vs W]. Conclusions. Prevalence of systemic inflammatory diseases in MDS are associated with age, disease biology [Low vs High risk] and ethnicity. Cardiopulmonary complications, such as PVD+ COPD are dominant in W and AA. Lower prevalence for PVD and COPD, but high rates for CAD, depression, diabetes and IPF in H vs W and AA suggest that ethnicity could differentially drive cardiometabolic and inflammametabolic phenotypes when co-occurring with clonal hemopoietic disorders such as MDS. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Conflicts of interest among authors of systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating interventions for melanoma: Cross-sectional Analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25858 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zane Rulon ◽

Kalyn Powers ◽

J. Michael Anderson ◽

Michael Weaver ◽

Austin Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Group ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Exact Test ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

States Patent

BACKGROUND Background: Previous studies have highlighted the potential influence industry relationships may have on the outcomes of medical research. OBJECTIVE Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of author COI in systematic reviews focusing on melanoma interventions, as well as determine whether the presence of these COI were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting favorable results and conclusions. METHODS Methods: This cross-sectional study included systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses focusing on interventions for melanoma. We searched MEDLINE and Embase for eligible systematic reviews published between September 1, 2016 and June 2, 2020. COI disclosures were cross-referenced with information from the CMS Open Payments Database, Dollars for Profs, Google Patents, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and previously published COI disclosure statements. Results were quantified using descriptive statistics and relationships were evaluated by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS Results: Of the 23 systematic reviews included in our sample, 12 (12/23; 52%) had at least one author with a COI. Of these reviews, seven (58%) reported narrative results favoring the treatment group and nine (75%) reported conclusions favoring the treatment group. Of the 11 systematic reviews without a conflicted author, four (36%) reported results favoring the treatment group and five (45%) reported conclusions favoring the treatment group. We found no significant association between the presence of author COI and the favorability of results (p= 0.53) or conclusions (p= 0.15). CONCLUSIONS Conclusions: Author COI did not appear to influence the outcomes of systematic reviews regarding melanoma interventions. Clinicians and other readers of dermatology literature should be cognizant of the influence that industry may have on the nature of reported outcomes, including those from systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

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Financial relationships between neurologists and industry

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000005657 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 90 (23) ◽

pp. 1063-1070 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Aditi Ahlawat ◽

Pushpa Narayanaswami

Keyword(s):

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

The United States ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Physician Compensation ◽

Regional Trends ◽

Food And Beverage ◽

Data Book ◽

Incorrect Information ◽

Open Payments ◽

Retrospective Database

ObjectiveTo analyze research and nonresearch payments from the pharmaceutical and device industry to neurologists in 2015 using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments database.MethodsIn this retrospective database analysis, we computed the percentage of neurologists in the United States receiving payments, the median/mean payments per neurologist, payment categories, regional trends, and sponsors. We computed the number of practicing neurologists from the Association of American Medical Colleges State Physician Workforce data book, 2015.ResultsIn 2015, approximately 51% of US neurologists received nonresearch payments totaling $6,210,414. The median payment per physician was $81. Payments to the top 10% of compensated neurologists amounted to $5,278,852 (84.5%). Food and beverage was the most frequent category (86.5% of the total number of payments). The highest amount was paid for serving as faculty/speaker for noncontinuing medical education activities (58%). The top sponsor of nonresearch payments was Teva Pharmaceuticals ($1,162,900; 18.5%). A total of 412 neurologists received $2,921,611 in research payments (median $1,132). Multiple sclerosis specialists received the largest proportion ($285,537; 9.7%). Daiichi Sankyo paid the largest amount in research payments ($826,029; 28%).ConclusionsThe Open Payments program was established to foster transparent disclosure of physician compensation from industry, in response to legislative and public concerns over the effect of conflicts of interest on practice, education, and research. The effects of this program remain unclear and studies of changes in prescribing practices, costs, and other outcomes are necessary. CMS should ensure that incorrect information can be rectified quickly and easily.

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Conflicts of interest in research on electronic cigarettes: a cross-sectional study

Tobacco Prevention & Cessation ◽

10.18332/tpc/90465 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement) ◽

Author(s):

Cristina Martínez ◽

Marcela Fu ◽

Iñaki Galán ◽

Mónica Pérez-Rios ◽

Jose M. Martínez-Sánchez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Interest In Research

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Does a Graduate Course in Fluency Disorders Make a Difference?

Perspectives on Fluency and Fluency Disorders ◽

10.1044/ffd20.1.10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 10-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Evelyn R. Klein ◽

Barbara J. Amster

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Students ◽

Graduate Programs ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Graduate Course ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Fluency Disorders ◽

Introductory Course ◽

Communicative Disorders

Abstract A study by Yaruss and Quesal (2002), based on responses from 134 of 239 ASHA accredited graduate programs, indicated that approximately 25% of graduate programs in the United States allow students to earn their degree without having coursework in fluency disorders and 66% of programs allow students to graduate without clinical experience treating people who stutter (PWS). It is not surprising that many clinicians report discomfort in treating PWS. This cross-sectional study compares differences in beliefs about the cause of stuttering between freshman undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory course in communicative disorders and graduate students enrolled and in the final weeks of a graduate course in fluency disorders.

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