Conflict of Interest Guidelines for Reviewers

 

Maintaining impartiality in the review process is crucial. Reviewers must decline the review invitation if a conflict of interest or competing interest exists with the submission. Examples encompass various domains and include, but are not limited to:

  1. Professional:
  • Employment in an organization with a direct connection to the authors.
  • Holding a position in the same institution as the authors.
  • Seeking employment at the same institution as the authors.
  1. Financial:
  • Ownership in an equity or enterprise benefiting from the publication.
  • Directly or indirectly receiving income as a result of publication.
  1. Personal:
  • Family members, professional/business partners, or former Ph.D. students of the author.
  • Collaborating with the author within the past 48 months.
  • Serving as a co-editor within the past 24 months.

Reviewers are obligated to disclose any competing interest or conflict of interest that could raise questions about their impartiality, ensuring transparency and integrity in the review process.