Table 5 Characteristics of conflict of interest (COI) disclosure policy (N = 163)

 Specific to the journal

 Specific to the publisher

 Specific to both

 At the time of manuscript submission

 At the time of manuscript acceptance

 Unclear

 A narrative statement

 ICMJE^a Uniform Disclosure Form

 Journal form

 Publisher form

 Modified ICMJE form

 A COI disclosure form different from the ICMJE Uniform Disclosure Form

 Online as part of the submission process

 In the body of the manuscript

 In a file separate from the manuscript (e.g., cover letter)

 Via email sent by authors to the journal

 Unclear

 Not clear

 Within the published manuscript

 In an online form

 Upon request

 Explicitly states that disclosures will not be made available

 Submitted work

 Work not related to the submitted work (or outside the submitted work)

 Not specified

Effect of COI disclosures on the editorial process described

Authors may be contacted for more details on disclosed COI

COI disclosure may be verified following revision or acceptance

Procedures to verify authors’ COI disclosures described

Effect of not disclosing COI on editorial process described