As part of the submission process, authors must disclose any competing interests through a formal 'Competing Interests' statement. Having a competing interest does not, in itself, prevent a manuscript from being published; rather, its purpose is to uphold transparency for both reviewers and readers alike. Where no such interests apply, authors should include the standard declaration: 'No competing interests were disclosed.'
Competing interests may take many forms, spanning both financial and non-financial dimensions. Common examples include, without being limited to, the following:
Receipt of financial support, salaries, or other forms of compensation from an organization, or ownership of stocks or shares in a company whose financial standing could be affected by the publication's findings.
Patents held or sought by the author, their funding body, or their employer that relate to the subject matter of the publication.
Formal affiliations or memberships with interest groups connected to the content under discussion.
Political, religious, or ideological interests that may bear on the objectivity of the work.
