The University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine
Division of Continuing Professional Development
The following document outlines the guiding principles pertaining to the support of UBC Division of Continuing Professional Development ("UBC CPD") activities as well as programs that are submitted to it for approval of study credits including but not restricted to courses, conferences, workshops, continuing education of approved rounds, internet courses, and the production of learning resources, e.g. CD ROM or videotape by commercial sponsors (e.g. pharmaceutical companies, instrument, and device manufacturers).
These guidelines comply with the recommendations in the following documents:
1. Canadian Medical Association policy on "Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry" (Update 2007)
2. The College of Family Physicians of Canada Mainpro-M1 and Mainpro-C accreditation criteria
3. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accreditation criteria
4. American Medical Association Ethical Opinion on "Gifts to Physicians from Industry" (December, 1998)
5. Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for "Commercial Support of Continuing Medical Education" (2007)
6. U.B.C. Policies and Procedures (Aug 2009) www.universitycounsel.ubc.ca/policies/policies.html
Preamble
The primary objective of professional interactions between physicians and commercial supporters should be for the advancement of the health of the population rather than the private good of either physicians or industry. The primary purpose of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development (“CME/CPD”) activities is to address the educational needs of physicians and other health care providers in order to improve the health care of patients. It is the responsibility of the UBC CPD to ensure that any educational activity is designed primarily for that purpose.
University CME/CPD providers often receive financial and other support from commercial sponsors. Such support can contribute significantly to the quality of CME/CPD activities but must avoid potential bias or the perception of bias. The purpose of this document is to describe the guiding principles that the UBC CPD will meet in planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating CME/CPD activities for which commercial support was received.
Guidelines are available as a PDF file by clicking here. Please note that this file will open in a separate browser window. |