Resolution of conflicts of interest (COI)

The IRCAD training center has industrial and research partners (Karl Storz, Covidien/Medtronic, and Intuitive Surgical) and Course Faculty members and Healthcare professionals declare these industrial partners are never committed to the elaboration and running organization of the programs or in the choice of experts. There is neither publicity nor promotion in the form of pull-up stands or flyers during the course.

Course Faculty members and Healthcare professionals declare that they are fully committed to maintaining professional autonomy and independence in relations with the medical device Industry.
The content of the courses is aimed to promote education among its learners, and Course Faculty planners declare that this LEE is fair, balanced and free of commercial bias. Emphasis is placed on current knowledge, best practices and quality improvement. Course Faculty planners are fully committed to ensuring that innovative learning methods are applied and that decisions are made free of the control of commercial interest. Course topics and learning objectives are determined by planning committee members who have no conflict of interest to report and guarantee the impartiality of the course program, and, where appropriate, include subject areas which reflect current practice. Activities are linked to analyses of learner gaps and other needs. Learning objectives are clearly stated at the beginning. Evaluation mechanisms include questions which serve to enquire whether learners perceived commercial bias in the materials received from Faculty teaching experts. A summary of evaluation forms or feedback report is gathered at the conclusion of each accredited program.
A comprehensive needs assessment has always been conducted. Faculty planners and Course Directors have used multiple means of needs assessment to determine the perceived, misperceived and unperceived needs of their learners (e.g., surveys, expert opinions, evaluation results/reports from other educational activities, informal discussions and interviews, focus groups, consensus conferences, epidemiological data, new advances in clinical treatments, thematic analysis of peer-reviewed journals).
As a general guiding principle, IRCAD Continuing Education (CE) programs are free of commercial influence, based on best scientific evidence and focused on improving the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behavior of learners.
IRCAD as a CE provider ensures that teachers deliver current, objective, and scientifically rigorous content.
Scientific program planning committee members oversee the needs assessment, program development, compliance with disclosure rules, and the oversight of the activity in general. IRCAD CE providers commit themselves to resist any influence or interference that could undermine their professional integrity.
Of note, apart from the instruments shown in the sessions, at IRCAD and for invited speakers, there is no motivation to promote any specific brand related to any medical device company and participants can use any other brands of their choice.

Educational sponsorship and funding

IRCAD has received financial support in the form of an unrestricted financial support. IRCAD course funding occurs via an unrestricted support from IRCAD sponsors (medical device companies). Funding is provided free of any attempt to influence the program, individual sessions, subjects for discussion, content and choice of faculty members.
Commercial names of medical devices/software/equipment may appear because they are linked to specific medical procedures, which are the focus of this training course. Other products in the market can be used to perform the aforementioned medical procedures. The IRCAD as an educational provider does not endorse any particular product.