Conflict of Interest Policy

The International Journal of Care Scholars (IJCS) adheres to a strict policy of transparency in all aspects of the publication process to maintain trust and integrity. This Conflict of Interest Policy is aligned with best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). All individuals involved in the publishing process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members, must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, such as financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence the objectivity or integrity of a manuscript’s evaluation and publication.

For Authors:

 A Conflict of Interest Statement must be included in every manuscript submission. If no conflicts exist, authors should clearly state: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.” Authors must declare all financial, institutional, personal, or other relationships that may be perceived to influence the research or its interpretation. Financial relationships such as funding, employment, stock ownership, paid expert testimony, patent applications, or grants must also be disclosed if they might be perceived to influence the results or interpretation of the work. Failure to disclose conflicts may result in rejection of the manuscript or retraction after publication.

For Reviewers:

Reviewers must disclose any conflict of interest that may affect their ability to provide an unbiased evaluation, such as personal or professional relationships with the authors, or competing research interests. If a conflict exists, reviewers must inform the editor immediately and decline the review request. Manuscripts under review must be treated as strictly confidential and unpublished material must not be used for personal advantage.

 For Editors:

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists, such as cases involving colleagues, collaborators, or personal relationships. In such cases, the manuscript will be reassigned to another qualified editorial board member. Editors must abstain from making editorial decisions influenced by personal or financial gain, ensuring that the peer review process is conducted objectively, fairly, and without bias.

Journal Commitment in Handling Undisclosed Conflicts

The journal will investigate and take appropriate action if undisclosed conflicts of interest are discovered after publication, including issuing a Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction in accordance with COPE and ICMJE guidelines.