Instructions
In accordance with the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, the American College of Rheumatology has expanded the author disclosure of interest forms for Arthritis & Rheumatism and Arthritis Care & Research.
The corresponding author of a manuscript must complete and sign each page of the Disclosure of Interest/Copyright Transfer Form for Corresponding Author. Each co-author of a manuscript must complete and sign each page of the Disclosure of Interest/Copyright Transfer Form for Individual Author (not corresponding author). The author’s signature on each page of the form certifies that the information on the form is correct and assigns copyright.
It is the responsibility of the corresponding author of a manuscript to collect the Disclosure of Interest forms from each author and to send them in a single package to the editorial office. A manuscript will not receive an official final acceptance decision and will not be processed for publication until a completed form has been received for each author of the manuscript. Please note that this new Disclosure of Interest form replaces both the former Copyright Transfer form and the former Potential Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement.
As has been done for several years, information provided by authors pertaining to financial interests and grant support related to the study, as defined on the forms, will be published with each article. Information pertaining to individual authors’ roles in the study and manuscript preparation will now be published as well. The disclosure policy is not designed to discourage authors from involvement in outside activities or from receiving support for their scientific work from commercial sources. Rather, it is designed to maintain the scientific and professional integrity of the journals. The information provided will remain confidential while the manuscript is being reviewed.
