Reviewer Conflict of Interests

For Reviewers

Reviewers at the Journal of Rural and Tropical Nursing (JRTN) are expected to identify and disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest before or during the review. This page explains what constitutes a conflict, how to disclose one, and what happens after disclosure.

What Is a Conflict of Interest?

A conflict of interest is any relationship, interest, or circumstance that could reasonably be seen to affect a reviewer's objectivity.

Conflicts of interest may be financial, professional, personal, or intellectual. They do not necessarily imply wrongdoing; rather, their existence requires disclosure so that the editorial team can assess whether objective review is possible.

Personal and Professional Conflicts

  • Close personal relationship with one or more authors (family, close friend, or mentor–mentee relationship).
  • Current or recent collaboration with one or more authors on a research project, grant, or publication.
  • Employment at the same department or institution as one or more authors.
  • Prior involvement in the design, data collection, analysis, or writing of the manuscript under review.
  • A competitive professional relationship that could bias the assessment.

Financial and Intellectual Conflicts

  • A financial interest in the outcome of the research — for example, through shares, employment, or consulting fees related to a product or intervention assessed in the manuscript.
  • Funding from the same source as the authors in a way that creates a competitive interest.
  • A strong publicly expressed opinion about the topic that could prevent objective evaluation of the evidence.
  • An intellectual dispute with one or more authors that could bias assessment.

How to Disclose a Conflict

Before accepting If you identify a conflict when you receive a review invitation, decline the invitation and briefly describe the nature of the conflict in the response message. You do not need to provide extensive detail.
After accepting If a conflict becomes apparent after you have accepted a review invitation — for example, because you recognise the authors from the manuscript content — notify the editorial office immediately and withdraw from the review. The editorial office will reassign the manuscript.
During or after the review If a conflict arises or is identified at any point during or after the review, disclose it to the editorial office without delay. The editorial office will decide how to proceed, including whether an independent re-review is required.

Confidentiality of disclosures

All conflict-of-interest disclosures are treated as confidential by the editorial office. Disclosures are not shared with the authors or with other reviewers. Making a disclosure does not prejudice future review invitations from JRTN.

After Disclosure

The editorial office decides whether an objective review is possible and takes the appropriate action.

Reassignment If the disclosed conflict prevents objective review, the editorial office will withdraw the invitation and assign an alternative reviewer.
Managed review In some cases, a minor potential conflict may be manageable. The editorial office will advise whether the review can continue and under what conditions.
Undisclosed conflicts If a conflict of interest is discovered after a review has been completed and a decision communicated, the editorial office will investigate and may take corrective action, including re-review.
COPE guidance JRTN follows COPE guidelines when managing disclosed and undisclosed conflicts of interest. Serious cases may be escalated to institutional authorities.