Focus and Scope

Advances in Internal Medicine, published by American Medical Association. are dedicated to providing physicians with the best research and important information in the world of medical research and science and to present the information in a format that is understandable and clinically useful. Committed to publishing multidisciplinary research that spans the entire spectrum of healthcare and medicine access, Advances in Internal Medicine aims at an international audience of pharmacists, clinicians, medical ethicists, regulators, and researchers, providing an online forum for the rapid dissemination of recent research and perspectives in this area.

Advances in Internal Medicine Evidence seeks to advance clinical trial research and clinical practice by:

• Publishing high-quality studies from the front lines of medical research.
• Challenging the medical community to take new approaches to clinical trial design and execution that yield more powerful clinical evidence.
• Sparking debate and conversation around areas of medicine where clinical decisions are made without sufficient evidence.
• Engaging physicians in a more sophisticated and meaningful way with clinical evidence.

Adhering to the rigorous peer-review and quality standards expected from Advances in Internal Medicine Evidence publishes:

• Original research, clinical trials, and other clinically grounded work (e.g., epidemiology studies, first-in-human trials, meta-analyses) that validate or challenge prior clinical findings.
• Standard reviews, systematic reviews, and other review types that contextualize research findings with the aim of accelerating clinical adoption of new evidence.
• Case studies and reviews of clinical trial methodology that enhance understanding of trial strengths and weaknesses.
• Curbside consult series that addresses common patient care issues.
• Morning Report series solicited case presentation articles that are delivered in a morning report format.

Generation of Evidence

The process of generating evidence is a key area of focus for Advances in Internal Medicine Evidence. We encourage readers to evaluate the reasoning behind the complex decisions that investigators make in trial design and execution, and to assess the quality of evidence produced in trials. Our goal is to build a community that takes a rigorous approach to evaluating evidence and assessing its impact on clinical decision-making.

Statistical Methods

Advances in Internal Medicine Evidence guides readers toward a deeper understanding of the statistical methods used in trials. We provide concise, digestible explanations of research methods to inform the interpretation of the resulting data. In addition, we introduce readers to emerging statistical methods and types of data that will play an increasingly prominent role in future trials.

Multidisciplinary Coverage

Advances in Internal Medicine Evidence publishes content relevant across all medical disciplines to advance the discussion of how to generate evidence that informs patient care. Physician-scientists, trialists, and general medicine and subspecialty clinicians will all benefit from this publication.

Advances in Internal Medicine covers themes including, but not limited to:

1. Core Clinical Subspecialties

• Cardiovascular Disease:
• Management of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary artery disease in primary and secondary prevention.
• Diagnosis and treatment of common arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation).
• Management of chronic heart failure.
• Cardiovascular risk assessment and modification.
• Pulmonology (Respiratory Medicine):
• Diagnosis and management of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
• Approach to common respiratory symptoms like chronic cough and dyspnea.
• Management of community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia.
• Diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea.
• Gastroenterology and Hepatology:
• Management of common GI disorders: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Diagnosis and long-term care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Approach to abnormal liver function tests, viral hepatitis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
• Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism:
• Comprehensive management of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, including new therapies and technologies.
• Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid and parathyroid disorders.
• Management of osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency, and metabolic bone disease.
• Approach to obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
• Nephrology (Kidney Diseases):
• Management of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Diagnosis and management of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base disorders.
• Management of hypertension in the context of kidney disease.
• Infectious Diseases:
• Diagnosis and management of common bacterial, viral, and fungal infections in ambulatory and hospital settings.
• Antimicrobial stewardship and principles of appropriate antibiotic use.
• Care of patients with HIV from a generalist perspective.
• Sepsis recognition and management.
• Rheumatology:
• Diagnosis and management of common autoimmune and inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout).
• Approach to musculoskeletal complaints and osteoarthritis.
• Interpretation of common immunological tests.
• Hematology and Oncology:
• Evaluation and management of anemia.
• Approach to common bleeding and thrombotic disorders.
• Initial diagnostic workup of common malignancies.
• Principles of palliative care, pain management, and symptom control in cancer patients.
• Allergy and Immunology:
• Management of common allergic conditions such as urticaria and angioedema.
• Initial evaluation of suspected immunodeficiency in adults.

2. The Practice of General Internal Medicine

• Diagnosis and Clinical Reasoning:
• Complex case reports, clinical problem-solving series, and "clinical vignette" style articles.
• Studies on diagnostic errors and cognitive biases in medicine.
• The art and science of the differential diagnosis.
• Management of Multimorbidity and Complex Patients:
• Strategies for caring for patients with multiple chronic conditions.
• Polypharmacy, deprescribing, and medication reconciliation.
• Care coordination and the patient-centered medical home.
• Hospital Medicine:
• Topics specific to the care of hospitalized adult patients.
• Transitions of care (admission, discharge, and inter-unit transfers).
• Quality improvement and patient safety in the inpatient setting.
• Ambulatory (Outpatient) General Medicine:
• Long-term management of chronic disease in the clinic setting.
• Preventive health, health maintenance, and screening.
• Efficient and effective consultation and primary care practice.
• Perioperative Medicine:
• Pre-operative risk assessment and medical optimization of patients undergoing surgery.
• Management of post-operative medical complications.

3. Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine

• Geriatric Medicine:
• Management of classic geriatric syndromes: falls, frailty, delirium, dementia, and incontinence.
• Adapting medical care for the physiology of aging.
• Palliative and End-of-Life Care:
• Symptom management for serious illness (pain, nausea, dyspnea).
• Communication skills, advance care planning, and goals-of-care discussions.
• Principles of hospice care.

4. Foundational and Cross-Cutting Themes

• Preventive Medicine:
• Implementation of screening guidelines (cancer, cardiovascular).
• Adult immunization updates.
• Lifestyle counseling (diet, exercise, smoking cessation).
• Medical Ethics and Professionalism:
• Analysis of ethical dilemmas encountered in adult medicine.
• Issues of patient autonomy, informed consent, and confidentiality.
• Health Policy and Economics:
• The impact of health policy on the practice of internal medicine.
• Studies on cost-effective care and value-based medicine.
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement:
• Systems-based approaches to reducing medical errors.
• Implementation science and best practice adoption.
• Medical Education:
• Innovations in teaching for medical students, residents (in Graduate Medical Education), and practicing internists (Continuing Medical Education).