The Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research, as part of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences and published by MUK Press, adheres to the ICMJE recommendation on “Author Responsibilities—Conflicts of Interest”. The journal emphasizes the importance of disclosing any potential financial or personal relationships that might influence a manuscript's content.
Key Points on Conflict of Interest:
- Author Disclosure:
- Authors must disclose any financial conflicts or interests at the time of manuscript submission, including sources of funding for their research.
- Authors are required to complete and sign the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Manuscripts will not be accepted without this form.
- Public Trust:
- The credibility of published articles relies on how well conflicts of interest are managed throughout the writing, peer review, and editorial processes.
- Conflicts may arise from financial relationships (employment, consultancy, stock ownership, etc.) or personal relationships that could bias judgment.
- Potential Conflicts Related to Authors:
- Authors must explicitly state whether potential conflicts of interest exist in a dedicated notification page in the manuscript.
- Any individuals providing writing assistance should be identified, and their funding sources disclosed.
- Project Support:
- Researchers should not enter into agreements that interfere with their access to data or their ability to analyze it independently.
- Authors must describe the role of sponsors in the study design and publication process. If sponsors had no involvement, this should also be stated.
- Conflicts Related to Editors and Reviewers:
- Editors avoid selecting reviewers with obvious potential conflicts of interest, such as those from the same institution as the authors.
- Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could bias their evaluations and recuse themselves from reviewing if necessary.
- Final Decision-Making:
- Editors making final decisions on manuscripts must have no personal, professional, or financial involvement that could affect their judgment.
- Editorial staff must disclose their financial interests and recuse themselves from decisions where a conflict exists.
The journal aims to maintain transparency and integrity in its publication process by enforcing strict conflict of interest policies for all parties involved.
