Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest occur when people or organizations are put in a position where their vested interests or affiliations might sway their judgement and make it difficult for them to act impartially. These conflicts might take many different forms, such as financial gain, interpersonal connections, or commitments at work that contradict their main duties. Managing conflicts of interest is crucial to promote openness, sustain trust, and uphold ethical standards in decision-making processes.

Personal Conflicts of Interest: If they result in a lack of impartiality during the review or Editorial process, personal prejudices, views, or ideologies can also be regarded as conflicts of interest.
Authors' Conflicts of Interest: Authors are required to disclose any monetary or personal interests that can be seen as influencing the study. These can include corporate funding, connections to key players in the business, or personal prejudices that might skew the study results.
Reviewers' Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that might sway their submission assessment. A financial or personal connection to the author(s) or having a stake in the study's findings are examples of this.
Editorial Conflicts of Interest: Conflicts of interest in the Editorial process should be avoided by journal Editors. Any financial or personal ties they may have to the writers or any organizations that might influence their Editorial judgement should be disclosed.
Publisher Conflicts of Interest: Publishers should ensure that the journal's Editorial and peer review processes are conducted fairly and without bias. If the publisher has financial interests in certain outcomes, it could be a conflict of interest.
Institutional Conflicts of Interest: Universities or research institutions may have conflicts of interest if they receive funding from organizations with a vested interest in the research outcomes. This could potentially influence the direction or interpretation of research.