In Science We Trust?

In the prepandemic world of 2017, a Pew Research Center survey demonstrated that the overall public confidence in scientists was positive ( 1 The Pew Research CenterMixed messages about public trust in science. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2017/12/08/mixed-messages-about-public-trust-in-science/Date accessed: August 10, 2021 Google Scholar ). Then, along came COVID-19. During the pandemic, scientific discoveries and resulting public policy recommendations have been just as likely to be scrutinized by content experts as it is by family members on Facebook, resulting in a cacophony of opinions. The politicization of science has led to an overall sense of public mistrust, and the debate over vaccinations demonstrates an erosion of the trust in clinical trials, which are the methodologic cornerstones of advancing medicine and improving patient outcomes. Therefore, it is both important and timely that Hsieh et al ( 2 Hsieh L.J. Madadi S.R. Shore K.T. Keller E.J. Makary M.S. Potential bias in image-guided procedure research: a retrospective analysis of disclosed conflicts of interest and open payment records. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2022; 33: 141-147 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (1) Google Scholar ) have published their article titled, “Potential Bias in Image-Guided Procedure Research: A Retrospective Analysis of Disclosed Conflicts of Interest and Open Payment Records.” Potential Bias in Image-Guided Procedure Research: A Retrospective Analysis of Disclosed Conflicts of Interest and Open Payment RecordsJournal of Vascular and Interventional RadiologyVol. 33Issue 2PreviewTo assess the prevalence of positive conflicts of interest (COI) disclosures in United States–based interventional radiology (IR) research as well as the level of agreement between disclosed financial relationships and Open Payment Data for top-cited image-guided procedure research. Full-Text PDF