Towards more uniform conflict disclosures: the updated ICMJE conflict of interest reporting form

A simplified revision of the uniform conflict of interest disclosure form is now available

The great variability in the processes that different journals use to ask about and report authors’ potential conflicts of interest creates confusion for authors, readers and the public. To help lessen this confusion, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) developed an electronic uniform disclosure form and placed it in the public domain in October 2009. The ICMJE member journals piloted the form, encouraged other journals to use it, and invited feedback. We recognised that the reporting of competing interests is complex and nuanced and sometimes contentious, and thus anticipated modifying the form based on feedback received. We are grateful to the many authors, editors and other interested parties who took the time to comment on the form and its implementation. The issues raised ranged from technical problems about the correct deployment of the form (it requires the user to download version 8.0 or higher of the free Adobe Reader software to function) to concerns about the ethics of inquiring about non-financial associations. The Committee considered these valuable comments and revised the form at our most recent meeting.