Purpose
Readers, editors and reviewers judge research better when they know about relationships that could, or could appear to, influence it. A competing interest (also called a conflict of interest) is not wrongdoing; failing to declare one is a problem. LMDAJ requires open declaration from authors, reviewers and editors. The Association’s own relationships with sponsors are declared too. This policy follows the ICMJE recommendations and COPE guidance.
What is a competing interest?
A financial or non-financial relationship that could directly undermine, or be seen to undermine, the objectivity, integrity or value of a publication, through potential influence on judgements and actions.
Financial interests
- Funding or support: money, equipment, drugs, devices, staff or other help for the work, from any organisation that could gain or lose from the results, and any role of the funder in design, data, analysis, writing or the decision to publish.
- Employment: current, recent or expected employment by an organisation that could gain or lose.
- Personal financial interests: shares, consulting fees, honoraria, speaker fees, travel support, gifts, royalties, patents or patent applications, or leadership roles in relevant companies.
- Relationships in the three years before submission with organisations with an interest in the subject.
Non-financial interests
- Personal, professional or political relationships; strong personal beliefs about the topic; membership of or advocacy for relevant organisations or campaigns; academic rivalries; roles on guideline panels or in the Association; or involvement in developing the intervention or tool studied.
When in doubt, declare it. Editors decide whether it matters.
Authors
- Every author must disclose all relevant interests when submitting. The corresponding author submits a statement for all authors and confirms that each author has reviewed it.
- Use the LMDAJ disclosure form The form is completed by each author.
- The article includes a Competing interests statement, for example: “Competing interests: none declared.” or “Author A received consulting fees from [company] in 2024.”
- State the funding sources and the role of funders. If the funder had no role, say so.
- Disclosures should be updated if circumstances change before publication.
- All article types need a declaration, including editorials, letters, reviews and case reports.
- Authors who are employees of, or hold equity in, a company that makes a product studied must say so clearly.
- Declarations are published with the article. Disclosure forms may be kept on file.
Peer reviewers
- Reviewers must tell the editor of any competing interests before accepting. Examples: recent collaboration, same institution, financial ties, rivalry, personal relationship, or strong views on the topic.
- Reviewers decline if the interest could bias them. If the editor allows the review, the interest is recorded.
- Reviewers must not use unpublished information for personal or professional advantage.
Editors and editorial board members
- Editors declare interests annually and when they are assigned a manuscript.
- Editors with a conflict (own submission, same institution, recent collaboration, financial ties, close relationship) must not handle or have access to the manuscript, and are excluded from decisions. An independent editor deals with the paper.
- Chief Editor: manuscripts from the Chief Editor are handled by a designated senior editor with no conflict. Final decisions are made by an editor with no relevant conflict.
- A list of editors’ declared interests will be published on the website.
- Editorial decisions are independent of the Association’s finances, advertisers and sponsors. Advertising and sponsored content are labelled and kept separate.
The Association, sponsors and the journal
- LMDAJ’s sponsors, funders and advertisers are listed on the website.
- They have no role in selecting, reviewing or deciding on manuscripts.
- Sponsored supplements and themed issues are marked and follow the same peer-review standard.
What editors do with declarations
Editors consider declarations during assessment and may:
- ask for clarification or an independent statistical analysis;
- choose reviewers carefully;
- require changes to the statement;
- publish the declaration with the article;
- reject, or where problems are found after publication, issue a correction or retraction (see Corrections and Publication Ethics policies).
Declaring an interest does not by itself reduce the chance of acceptance.
Undeclared interests
If an undisclosed competing interest is found after publication, the editors will ask the authors to explain, publish a correction with the disclosure, and, if it affects the validity of the work, may issue an expression of concern or retraction. Persistent or serious non-disclosure is misconduct and may lead to sanctions.
Examples of statements
- “The authors declare no competing interests.”
- “A. B. has received speaker fees from X Pharma outside the submitted work. C. D. is an unpaid officer of the Liberia Medical & Dental Association.”
- “This study was funded by [funder]. The funder had no role in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing, or the decision to submit.”
Contact
Questions: the Contact the Editorial Office page.
Appendix A: Author disclosure form (outline)
- Name and manuscript title.
- Support for this work: any funding, equipment or help from any source (declare all).
- Relationships in the last 3 years with organisations that could have an interest in the subject (grants, consulting, honoraria, shares, patents, employment, board membership).
- Other relationships or activities that could be seen to influence the work.
- Role of the funder in the study.
- Statement: ☐ I have nothing to declare ☐ I have declared all relevant interests.
Signature/date.