In accordance with the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Journal of Dental School is committed to upholding transparency and ethical integrity by managing conflicts of interest (COI) effectively. This policy outlines how conflicts of interest are defined, declared, and managed at each stage of the publication process.
Definition of Conflicts of Interest (COI) / Competing Interests
A conflict of interest exists when an individual’s personal, professional, or financial relationships may bias or improperly influence their actions or decisions regarding the publication of scholarly work. Conflicts may arise in the following situations:
Financial Conflicts: Involves direct or indirect financial benefits, such as funding, stocks, royalties, or employment, that could influence the research, review, or publication.
Personal or Professional Conflicts: Personal relationships or professional affiliations with individuals or organizations that may affect impartial judgment.
Academic or Intellectual Conflicts: Situations involving academic rivalry, intellectual property issues, or competition that could influence the work or its assessment.
Institutional Conflicts: Institutional affiliations that may result in a vested interest in the research's outcome.
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
To ensure transparency, all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, and editors, must declare any relevant conflicts of interest.
Authors: All authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest when submitting a manuscript. This includes financial ties, personal or professional affiliations, or other factors that could affect the research findings. The declaration of conflicts of interest should be provided in a separate section of the manuscript. If no conflicts exist, authors must state: "The authors declare no conflict of interest." Any conflict of interest must be disclosed on the title page and also in the relevant section of the submitted manuscript.
Reviewers: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts that could compromise their ability to provide an objective review. This includes recent collaborations, financial interests, or personal relationships with the authors. Reviewers should decline an assignment if a conflict is present. The review form includes a section for the reviewer to disclose any conflict of interest.
Editors: Editors handling a manuscript must declare any conflicts, such as relationships with authors or institutions involved in the research. If a conflict exists, the editor must recuse themselves from the process, and another editor will be assigned.
Journal and Publisher: The journal and its publisher will disclose any relationships that could influence editorial decisions, such as financial sponsorships or institutional partnerships. Transparency in these matters is key to maintaining the integrity of the editorial process.
Management of Conflicts of Interest
Pre-Publication Management: The journal’s editorial team reviews all COI declarations during manuscript submission. In cases where a conflict of interest is identified, the journal may take the following actions:
Assigning the manuscript to an alternative editor with no conflict.
Requesting additional reviews from independent reviewers.
Publishing a COI statement with the article for transparency.
Post-Publication Management: If an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified after publication, the journal will investigate the situation. Actions may include issuing a correction, publishing an expression of concern, or retracting the article, depending on the severity of the undisclosed conflict and its impact on the research’s integrity.
Transparency and Disclosure
To ensure transparency throughout the publication process, the Journal of Dental School will:
Publish authors' conflict of interest statements alongside their articles.
Provide clear instructions on COI disclosure for authors, reviewers, and editors on the journal's website.
Make the journal’s COI policy accessible to all contributors and stakeholders.
Education and Awareness
The journal will regularly educate its editors, reviewers, and authors on the importance of disclosing conflicts of interest. Educational resources will be made available to ensure that all parties understand the potential impact of COI on research integrity and how to properly handle them.
Regular Policy Review
The COI policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains in line with COPE guidelines and the latest best practices in scholarly publishing.
By following these guidelines, the Journal of Dental School strives to uphold the highest standards of ethical publishing, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in the research we publish.
For any inquiries related to this policy or to disclose a conflict of interest, please contact us at dentaljournal@sbmu.ac.ir.