A conflict of interest declaration – an essential part of publication ethics – is applied by most journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. The requirement to disclose a conflict of interest applies to authors, reviewers and editors alike, as it has a considerable bearing on readers’ trust in the findings of a study. Disregarding this rule often leads to a manuscript being rejected or to the retraction of an article that has already been published.
The concept of conflict of interest in a scientific publication
A conflict of interest arises when the professional judgement of an author, reviewer or editor regarding the objectivity of a study could potentially be influenced by an external interest – financial, professional or personal. The mere existence of such a connection does not in itself mean that the findings are distorted – that is for readers and the editorial board to judge. International bodies, including the ICMJE and COPE, recommend that all participants in the publication process disclose such circumstances.
What types of conflict of interest exist in research?
Specialists in publication ethics distinguish between financial and non-financial conflicts of interest.
Financial conflicts arise in situations where an author receives, or may receive, a material benefit connected with the subject of the publication.
Non-financial conflicts – personal, professional and academic relationships – may influence how the findings are perceived. Typical examples include:
- funding for the study provided by an organisation with an interest in its outcomes
- employment or consultancy work carried out by the author for such an organisation
- ownership of shares, patents or other rights connected with the subject of the article
- family, personal or other close relationships between the author and the reviewer
- involvement in competing research groups working on a similar subject
The procedure and timing for disclosing a conflict of interest
Disclosure of a conflict of interest usually takes place at the manuscript submission stage – through a standard form or a separate statement within the text of the article. Many journals use the ICMJE form for this purpose. Even where no such circumstances exist, authors should state this explicitly, for example: “The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.” As a rule, the circumstances to be disclosed are those relating to the period during which the research was conducted:
- The author indicates whether a conflict of interest exists when submitting the manuscript.
- The editorial office reviews the information provided and requests clarification where necessary.
- A reviewer with a conflict of interest concerning the author or the subject of the article informs the editor and withdraws from assessing the manuscript.
- If an undisclosed conflict of interest comes to light after publication, the editorial office carries out an investigation in accordance with COPE guidelines.
A similar principle applies to publications aimed at authors from Kyrgyzstan: the journal of the National Attestation Commission under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic also includes provisions on conflict of interest for reviewers within its editorial policy.
What happens if an author conceals a conflict of interest?
An undisclosed conflict of interest identified during peer review usually results in the manuscript being rejected. If the circumstances come to light after publication, the editorial board may issue a correction or initiate a retraction. Cases of this kind affect an author’s academic reputation and can make it harder to publish future work. Readers’ perception of a possible conflict of interest is at times just as significant as its actual existence, which is why disclosing such information is considered the safer approach.
Disclosing a conflict of interest is standard practice in publication ethics – applied regardless of a journal’s quartile or the country in which it is based. It is not a sign of poor-quality research; rather, it demonstrates an author’s willingness to engage in a transparent dialogue with readers and the editorial board. Scientists planning to publish should review a journal’s policy on conflict of interest in advance, in order to avoid delays during peer review.
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