What is the aim of a COI management plan?

A Conflict of Interest (COI) management plan is primarily designed to address potential biases that may arise in research activities due to financial, personal, or professional interests of researchers. The aim of such a plan is to establish procedures that help minimize the risk of bias, ensuring that research integrity is maintained. This is important because biases can distort research findings, potentially leading to unethical outcomes and jeopardizing public trust in scientific research.

Implementing procedures under a COI management plan involves identifying, monitoring, and managing disclosed conflicts effectively. This could include measures such as requiring authors to disclose conflicts in publications, ensuring independent review of research outcomes, or modifying research protocols when necessary. The focus is on vigilance and proactive management rather than outright elimination of all potential conflicts, which is often impractical. Having a well-structured plan contributes to the ethical standards of research and protects the credibility of research findings, thus enhancing the trust of stakeholders in the research process.