Conflict of Interest Policy

The Scientific Journal for Publishing in Health Research and Technology (SJPHRT) requires all participants in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, and editors—to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. This policy ensures the integrity and transparency of our editorial and peer-review processes.

1. Definition of a Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest (COI) exists when professional judgment concerning a primary interest (such as a patient's welfare or the validity of research) may be influenced by a secondary interest (such as financial gain, personal relationships, or professional rivalries). A potential conflict of interest does not necessarily imply a lack of integrity; it simply requires a transparent declaration.

2. Author Responsibilities

  • Disclosure: All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing the research presented in the manuscript.

  • Examples of Conflicts:

    • Financial: Employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, and paid expert testimony.

    • Personal: Personal relationships, rivalries, or academic competition.

    • Institutional: Affiliations with organizations that have a direct or indirect financial interest in the subject matter.

  • Funding: Authors must explicitly state all sources of financial support for the research in the manuscript's acknowledgments section.

  • Corresponding Author: The corresponding author is responsible for collecting and reporting COI information from all co-authors.

3. Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

  • Disclosure: Reviewers and editors must declare any potential conflicts of interest before agreeing to review or handle a manuscript.

  • Declining Involvement: A reviewer or editor must decline to participate in the review process if they have a conflict of interest, such as:

    • Being a co-author of the manuscript.

    • Working at the same institution as the authors.

    • Having a close personal relationship with any of the authors.

    • Having a direct financial or professional interest in the work.

  • Confidentiality: All information regarding conflicts of interest is kept strictly confidential and is used solely to inform editorial decisions.