Conflict of Interest Policy

The Journal implements and applies a comprehensive policy for the prevention, identification, and management of conflicts of interest in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the principles of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the standards of transparency outlined in the COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest is any financial, professional, personal, or other relationship that may influence, or be perceived to influence, the objectivity, impartiality, or independence of participants in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, and editors.

Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to:

  • financial relationships (grants, funding, honoraria, participation in commercial projects);
  • institutional or employment relationships;
  • joint publications or research collaboration;
  • personal or professional relationships;
  • academic competition or conflicts;
  • any other circumstances that may affect impartial judgment.

2. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process are required to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest.

2.1. For Authors

Authors must:

  • submit a conflict of interest disclosure statement at the time of manuscript submission;
  • disclose all financial and non-financial relationships in accordance with ICMJE recommendations;
  • confirm the accuracy and completeness of the disclosed information.

To structure this information, the Journal uses the EASE Interactive Checklist for Submitting Authors, which integrates authorship contribution statements with conflict of interest disclosure.

2.2. For Reviewers

Reviewers are required to:

  • inform the Editorial Office of any potential conflict of interest before accepting the review assignment;
  • decline the review if a conflict of interest exists;
  • refrain from using any information from the manuscript for personal advantage.

2.3. For Editors

Editors must:

  • declare any conflicts of interest related to manuscripts under consideration;
  • recuse themselves from editorial decision-making where a conflict exists;
  • ensure transparency and integrity of the editorial process.

3. Conflict of Interest Management Procedure

In the event of a conflict of interest, the following procedure is applied:

  • recusal of the editor or reviewer with a conflict of interest;
  • appointment of an independent handling editor with no conflict of interest;
  • assignment of independent reviewers;
  • documentation of all grounds, actions, and decisions in the editorial system;
  • notification of authors where relevant.

All decisions are made in accordance with the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency.

4. Submissions by Editors and Editorial Board Members

The Journal applies a separate procedure for manuscripts submitted by the Editor-in-Chief, editors, or members of the Editorial Board.

In such cases:

  • the submitting editor is fully excluded from the editorial process;
  • an independent handling editor is appointed;
  • independent peer review is ensured;
  • reviewers are selected to avoid any potential conflicts of interest;
  • editorial decisions are made without the involvement of the conflicted individual.

This procedure complies with COPE recommendations on submissions by editors and editorial board members.

5. Documentation and Transparency

The Editorial Office ensures:

  • retention of all conflict of interest disclosures;
  • documentation of decisions related to conflict management;
  • recording of recusal actions;
  • auditability of editorial processes;
  • compliance with transparency and best publishing practices.

6. Breaches of the Policy

In cases of undisclosed conflicts of interest, the Journal follows COPE guidelines.

Depending on the severity, the Journal may:

  • request clarification or additional disclosures from the authors;
  • require correction or update of the disclosure statement;
  • reject the manuscript;
  • publish a correction or editorial notice;
  • initiate a retraction of the article.