Aims, Scope and Publication Ethics

«der informierte arzt»

1. Aims and Scope

Swiss quality journal by physicians for physicians
«der informierte arzt» is a monthly Swiss medical journal that provides high-quality continuing medical education in German for general practitioners and internists in both outpatient and hospital settings. All content is authored by experienced physicians and medical experts, ensuring clinical relevance and practical applicability.

Each year, the editorial board – composed of general practitioners and specialists – defines a catalogue of topics that address current medical challenges in internal medicine and primary care. Manuscripts are reviewed internally by board members, and on request, a double-blind external peer review is conducted. Peer-reviewed articles receive a DOI number. All articles are published with abstracts in both German and English.

SGAIM certification: Articles are eligible for CORE AIM/MIG continuing medical education (CME) credits.

The journal is printed in Switzerland and adheres strictly to international ethical and professional publishing standards, as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

«der informierte arzt» is certified with the Q-Publikation seal by the Swiss Media Association and is listed in the LEADING MediaBase Switzerland.

Circulation:
– WEMF/KS-certified (2023): 5,935 printed copies
– Subscriptions: 1,582
– Frequency: Monthly (12 issues/year)

ISSN: 1664-8412
Website: www.medinfo-verlag.ch

2. Peer Review Policy

All submitted articles are reviewed by members of the editorial board, the advisory board, and other selected medical specialists. Peer reviewers are recognized experts in their respective fields and are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the authors or the content of the manuscript under review. The final decision to accept, revise, or reject a manuscript is always made by the editors. Aerzteverlag medinfo adheres to the ICMJE guidelines on Responsibilities in the Submission and Peer Review Process.

The final editorial decision rests with the board. Peer-reviewed articles are labelled accordingly and assigned a DOI.

3. Authorship Criteria

Based on the recommendations of the ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors), Medinfo applies the following criteria to define authorship:

  • Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data

  • Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content

  • Final approval of the version to be published

  • Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved

4. Handling of Misconduct

All forms of scientific misconduct—including plagiarism, data falsification, and inappropriate authorship—are taken seriously. Allegations are reviewed by the editorial board and the publisher according to COPE Flowcharts. Confirmed cases lead to corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

The editorial board will take all complaints and appeals seriously, ensuring that any necessary corrections or retractions are made after publication. In the event of a complaint involving the editorial board or one of its members, Aerzteverlag medinfo will analyse the complaint and respond directly.

5. Complaints and Appeals

Authors and readers may raise editorial or ethical concerns through the contact provided below. Complaints about editorial decisions or board members are handled transparently and may be escalated to the publisher.

6. Corrections and Retractions

Errors or post-publication concerns will be addressed through formal corrections, updates or retractions, in line with COPE guidance. All changes are clearly marked and linked to the original article.

7. Conflicts of Interest

All authors are required to declare potential financial or non-financial conflicts of interest using a standardized form. The editorial board reviews disclosures for completeness and may verify them if needed. Our policy aligns with:

8. Data Protection and Research Ethics

For case reports or clinical content involving patients, written informed consent is obtained and privacy ensured through anonymization and data minimization. Research ethics comply with the WMA Declaration of Helsinki (2018).

9. Data Sharing

As our journals primarily publish review articles, case reports, and guideline overviews, no raw data is typically generated. If original data are included, availability is disclosed accordingly.

10. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain copyright and grant a publication license to Aerzteverlag medinfo AG. The journal model (subscription-based) is clearly disclosed. Articles are not reused without permission.

11. Advertising and Editorial Independence

Advertising content complies with Swiss legal standards and is clearly separated from editorial material. The editorial board operates independently from commercial influence. Advertisement acceptance is at the discretion of the publisher and does not imply endorsement.

12. Funding and Financial Transparency

Our journals are funded through:

  • Reader subscriptions

  • Print and online advertisements

  • Sponsored supplements and industry collaborations

Aerzteverlag medinfo AG does not receive public funding or private donations.

13. Post-Publication Comments

We encourage letters to the editor, including critical responses to published articles. These are reviewed, shared with the original authors, and published when appropriate.

14. Publishing Schedule

Our journals are published in regular intervals, such as monthly or bimonthly. Exact schedules are available on the respective journal websites.

15. Contact

For questions or concerns regarding publication ethics, please contact:
✉️ verlag@medinfo-verlag.ch
📞 +41 (0)44 915 70 80

Last updated: July 2025