Work

Use of Online Communication by Patients With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer During the Treatment Decision Process

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: 5 (IQR, 2-9) seconds (P = .02),and the number of words included increased from 7 (IQR, 7-12) to 13 (IQR, 7-25) (P < .001).The median number of words per second increased from 1.5 to 3.2 per second from 2014 to 2015 (P < .001).In 2014, no differences were found in the number of COI disclosures between education and oral sessions.In 2015, oral sessions had more conflicts (median, 5.5; IQR, 0.5-11.5)than educational sessions (median, 3; IQR, 0-6) (P = .004).The Figure shows a waterfall plot of words per second in 2015.The baseline is set as 4 words per second, an optimistic estimate of maximum reading ability.In 2014, a total of 37 of 248 presentations (14.9%) had information overload, whereas in 2015 this number increased to 83 of 221 (37.6%) (P < .001).As a sensitivity analysis, we compared 2015 and 2013 and reached similar conclusions.Discussion | We found that the change in policy from disclosure of relevant to all financial COIs increased disclosed COI and information overload at ASCO annual meetings.Of concern, 83 of 221 presentations (37.6%) at last year's ASCO meeting had COI disclosure slides that were displayed at a speed so fast that they exceeded the range of comprehension for most readers.For COI disclosure to be meaningful, it must be able to be read and processed.We also found that 124 of 242 speakers (51.2%) had at least 1 financial COI, and this number increased to 151 of 216 (69.9%) when all financial ties were disclosed as opposed to only those deemed relevant.Our findings raise concern about whether current disclosure protocols constitute meaningful disclosure.The solution would be to extend the time of the disclosure slide so that no slide exceeds established limits of reading speed.Further investigation is needed on audience ability to process COI slides at professional meetings if disclosure is the major objective.

Source: JAMA Oncology

DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.2070