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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
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A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts
Published on: September 20, 2018
Relationship between declared funding support and level of evidence
Shahryar Noordin1, James G Wright, Andrew Howard
1Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan. shahryar.noordin@gmail.com
Summary
Orthopaedic research funded by industry often has a lower level of evidence compared to studies supported by government or academic institutions. Improving industry-funded research quality is crucial for better orthopaedic decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Medical Research Funding
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- The financial relationship between the orthopaedic community and industry is under increasing scrutiny.
- Industry has historically funded a significant portion of orthopaedic research.
- This study examines the link between funding sources and the quality of evidence in published orthopaedic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between declared funding sources and the level of evidence in orthopaedic research.
- To analyze how industry funding correlates with the quality of scientific evidence presented in publications.
Main Methods:
- A review of primary research articles published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American volume) from 2003-2007.
- Assessment of articles for level of evidence, subject area, and funding source by a single reviewer.
- Statistical analysis using contingency tables and chi-square tests to determine associations between funding and evidence level.
Main Results:
- Industry funded 246 studies, with 50% being Level-IV evidence.
- Government, foundation, or university-funded studies (274 total) had 29% Level-IV evidence.
- Studies with no declared funding (366) showed 57% Level-IV evidence, with a significant association between industry funding and lower evidence levels (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Industry-funded orthopaedic studies, despite being numerous, demonstrated a lower level of evidence compared to those funded by public or academic entities.
- Enhancing the scientific rigor of industry-supported research could improve the quality of evidence used for orthopaedic clinical decisions.
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