Conflict of Interest Policy

Conflict of Interest Policy of the International Journal of Medical Science and Dental Health (IJMSDH)

The International Journal of Medical Science and Dental Health (IJMSDH) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and ethical publishing. To preserve the credibility of scholarly communication and public trust in published research, all participants in the publication process are required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest.

A conflict of interest does not necessarily imply wrongdoing. However, failure to disclose relevant relationships, activities, or interests may compromise the integrity of the editorial and peer-review process and undermine confidence in published research.

Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when professional judgment concerning a primary interest, such as the validity of research, objectivity of peer review, or editorial decision-making, may be influenced by a secondary interest.

Conflicts may be financial, personal, academic, professional, institutional, or political in nature.

Author Disclosure Requirements

Authors must disclose all relationships, activities, or interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the conduct, interpretation, or reporting of their research.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Research grants or funding support.
  • Employment relationships.
  • Consultancy fees or advisory roles.
  • Honoraria or speaker fees.
  • Stock ownership or financial investments.
  • Patent applications or intellectual property interests.
  • Personal or professional relationships that may influence the work.
  • Institutional affiliations that could create bias.

Authors should provide a Conflict of Interest Statement during manuscript submission. If no conflicts exist, authors should state:

"The authors declare that they have no known competing interests or conflicts of interest that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper."

Reviewer Responsibilities

Peer reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect their ability to provide an objective and unbiased assessment of a manuscript.

Reviewers should decline review invitations if they:

  • Have collaborated with the authors in recent years.
  • Have personal, academic, or professional relationships with the authors.
  • Have financial or institutional interests related to the manuscript.
  • Are involved in competing research that may create bias.

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal advantage or research purposes.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors and Editorial Board members must avoid handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

Conflicts may arise from:

  • Personal relationships with authors.
  • Current or recent research collaborations.
  • Financial interests related to the subject matter.
  • Institutional affiliations that may compromise impartiality.

When a conflict exists, the manuscript will be assigned to another qualified editor to ensure an independent and unbiased editorial decision.

Funding Disclosure

All sources of financial support for the research must be clearly disclosed within the manuscript.

Authors should identify:

  • Funding agencies.
  • Grant numbers (where applicable).
  • The role of funders in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and publication decisions.

Transparency regarding funding sources enables readers to evaluate potential influences on the research.

Post-Publication Conflicts of Interest

If an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified after publication, the journal will investigate the matter and may take appropriate corrective action.

Depending on the circumstances, such actions may include:

  • Publication of a correction.
  • Publication of an editorial note.
  • Expression of concern.
  • Retraction of the article in serious cases.

Transparency and Ethical Standards

IJMSDH believes that transparency is fundamental to responsible scholarly publishing. Disclosure of conflicts of interest helps readers, reviewers, and editors evaluate research objectively and strengthens confidence in the scientific record.

The journal supports and follows the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other internationally recognized best practices concerning conflicts of interest and research integrity.

Contact

Questions regarding conflicts of interest or disclosure requirements should be directed to the Editorial Office through the official contact channels provided on the journal website.