Journal of Surgery and Trauma adheres to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations on “Author Responsibilities—Conflicts of Interest” and the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals.
Authors are required to disclose, at the time of submission, any financial or personal relationships that might be perceived as influencing the work. They must also identify all sources of funding.
Public trust in the integrity of published research depends on transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest at all stages of writing, peer review, and editorial decision making. Conflicts of interest may arise when authors, reviewers, or editors have financial or personal relationships that could influence their judgment. These relationships may range from minor to significant, and the perception of bias can exist even when the individual believes their objectivity is unaffected. Financial relationships are the most easily identifiable but non-financial factors, such as academic rivalry or personal beliefs, can also create bias.
All individuals involved in the publication process must disclose all relationships or activities that could be viewed as potential conflicts of interest. Editors may use this information when making editorial decisions and may choose to publish the disclosed information for transparency.
1. Conflicts of Interest Related to Authors’ Commitments
Authors must disclose all financial and personal relationships that could influence their work. Authors must explicitly state in the manuscript whether a conflict of interest exists or not, using a “Conflict of Interest” section following the title page.
Individuals who provide writing or other assistance should be acknowledged, and the source of funding for such assistance must be stated. Authors should also disclose to study participants any relevant conflicts of interest and indicate within the manuscript whether such disclosure was made.
Editors will review these declarations and determine which should be published to help readers evaluate potential bias.
2. Conflicts of Interest Related to Project Support
Research may receive financial support from commercial entities, private foundations, or government agencies. Such funding may introduce potential bias. Authors have an ethical obligation to publish credible, independent research results. They should not enter into any agreements that restrict access to the data, analysis, or publication of findings.
The role of the sponsor, if any, in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing, or the decision to publish must be clearly described in the manuscript. Where the sponsor had no involvement, this should be explicitly stated.
Editors may require signed author statements affirming full access to all data and responsibility for data integrity. They may also request copies of study protocols or contracts before considering such manuscripts. The journal reserves the right to reject any article in which the sponsor exerts undue influence over the authors’ right to publish.
3. Conflicts of Interest Related to Editors, Staff, and Reviewers
Editors avoid selecting reviewers with any potential conflicts of interest, such as those working within the same institution or competitive research area as the authors. Authors may request that certain individuals not be invited as reviewers due to potential conflicts, with brief explanations when possible.
Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts that could affect their objectivity and must recuse themselves from the review process if a bias exists. They must also confirm explicitly whether a conflict exists or not. Reviewers are prohibited from using knowledge gained during the review process for personal or professional advantage.
Editors and editorial staff must have no personal, professional, or financial involvement in matters related to the manuscripts they handle. They must provide and regularly update statements of their potential conflicts of interest, recuse themselves from decisions where a conflict exists, and must not use unpublished manuscript content for personal benefit.
The journal will publicly disclose relevant conflict-of-interest statements from editorial staff or board members where appropriate.