Conflict of Interest Policy

A. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when personal, financial, professional, academic, or institutional interests have the potential to improperly influence an individual's responsibilities in conducting, reviewing, editing, or publishing scientific research.

The existence of a conflict of interest does not necessarily indicate misconduct. However, failure to disclose relevant conflicts may undermine the transparency, objectivity, and credibility of scientific publications.

Jurnal Media Teknik dan Sistem Industri requires all relevant conflicts of interest to be disclosed so that they can be appropriately assessed and managed.

B. Types of Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Financial Interests: Employment, consultancy fees, honoraria, stock ownership, patents, royalties, research grants, sponsored travel, or other financial benefits related to the research.

2. Personal Relationships: Family relationships, close friendships, personal disputes, or other relationships that may affect the objectivity of research or manuscript evaluation.

3. Professional and Academic Interests: Research collaborations, supervisory relationships, institutional affiliations, direct competition, or professional rivalries involving the authors or their work.

4. Institutional Interests: Relationships with universities, laboratories,  companies, industrial device manufacturers, funding agencies, or other organizations that may benefit from the research outcomes.

5. Editorial Conflicts of Interest: Circumstances in which editors or reviewers have relationships with the authors, their institutions, sponsors, or research subject matter that could compromise impartial assessment.

6. Non-Financial Interests: Personal beliefs, professional commitments, advocacy activities, or other non-financial interests that could reasonably be perceived to influence scientific judgment.

This list is not exhaustive. Any relationship that could reasonably be perceived to influence professional judgment must be disclosed.

C. Responsibilities of Authors

All authors must disclose actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest when submitting a manuscript to Jurnal Media Teknik dan Sistem Industri.

Authors are responsible for declaring both financial and non-financial interests that may be relevant to their research, findings, or interpretation.

Authors must also:

1. Disclose all relevant sources of research funding and describe the role of sponsors in research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, and the decision to submit the work for publication.

2. Declare financial or professional relationships with pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, healthcare institutions, or other organizations relevant to the submitted research.

3. Ensure that all co-authors are informed of and agree with the conflict-of-interest declarations.

4. Provide accurate and complete conflict-of-interest statements in the manuscript and submission system.

5. Inform the editorial team if a relevant conflict of interest is identified or arises after submission.

6. Ensure that the corresponding author coordinates the collection and submission of declarations from all co-authors.

The disclosure of a conflict of interest does not automatically disqualify a manuscript from publication. The editorial team will evaluate the circumstances and determine whether appropriate safeguards are required.

D. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest before accepting a peer-review assignment.

Reviewers should decline an assignment if a conflict could compromise, or could reasonably be perceived to compromise, their impartiality. Relevant circumstances may include recent research collaboration with an author, close personal relationships, institutional dependencies, direct academic competition, or financial interests related to the research.

Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and must not use unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal, professional, academic, or financial advantage.

If a potential conflict becomes apparent during the review process, the reviewer must promptly notify the editor.

E. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors must make editorial decisions independently and objectively, based on scientific quality, originality, methodological rigor, relevance to the journal's aims and scope, peer-review recommendations, and compliance with publication ethics.

Editors must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and withdraw from handling a manuscript whenever their impartiality may be compromised. In such cases, the manuscript should be assigned to an independent editor or another appropriately qualified editorial representative.

Editors must not use confidential information obtained through their editorial duties for personal benefit or allow commercial, personal, institutional, or sponsor interests to improperly influence publication decisions.

F. Conflict of Interest Statement in Manuscripts

All authors must include a conflict-of-interest statement in their submitted manuscripts.

1. No Conflict of Interest

If no relevant conflicts exist, authors may use the following statement:

“The authors declare that they have no known financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could reasonably be perceived to have influenced the research reported in this manuscript.”

2. Conflict of Interest Disclosed

If relevant conflicts exist, authors may use the following statement and adapt it to their circumstances:

“The authors declare the following financial and/or non-financial conflicts of interest: [describe the relevant interests]. The role of any funding organization, sponsor, or affiliated institution in the design, conduct, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of the research is disclosed as follows: [provide details, where applicable].”

The statement must accurately reflect the circumstances of the research. Authors must not declare the absence of conflicts when relevant interests exist.

G. Management of Conflicts of Interest

Jurnal Media Teknik dan Sistem Industri will assess disclosed conflicts of interest and determine whether additional measures are necessary to preserve the integrity and impartiality of the editorial process.

Depending on the circumstances, measures may include:

1. Requesting additional information or clarification from the parties concerned.

2. Reassigning a manuscript to an independent editor or reviewer.

3. Requiring more detailed disclosure in the manuscript or published article.

4. Implementing safeguards to ensure independent peer review and objective editorial decisions.

5. Seeking independent expert advice when necessary.

6. Taking appropriate editorial action when a significant conflict has been deliberately concealed or inaccurately reported.

All measures will be proportionate to the circumstances and consistent with the journal's publication ethics policies.

H. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

If an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified after submission, during peer review, or following publication, Jurnal Prima Medika Sains may request an explanation and supporting information from the relevant parties.

Depending on the findings, the journal may require a correction, publish an appropriate editorial notice, reconsider an editorial decision, or take other measures consistent with its correction, retraction, and research misconduct policies.

Serious concerns involving suspected research or publication misconduct will be handled in accordance with the journal's policy on Allegations of Research Misconduct.

I. Policy Compliance

All authors, reviewers, editors, and other relevant parties are expected to comply with this policy and disclose relevant conflicts of interest promptly, accurately, and transparently.

Jurnal Prima Medika Sains handles conflicts of interest in accordance with its publication ethics policies, applicable research ethics requirements, and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Through this policy, the journal seeks to protect the credibility of scientific findings, promote responsible research practices, and maintain public trust in scholarly publications in health and medical sciences.