Paper of the Year 2015 and 2016

In recognition of the high standard of papers submitted to the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, the editorial board in collaboration with the Nordic Congress of General Practice announced the two winners of the Paper of the Year Award 2015 and 2016 at the opening ceremony at the Nordic Congress for General Practice in Reykjavik, Iceland in June 2017. Both winners were rewarded participation free of charge to the Nordic Congress in Reykjavik, and were given a specific time slot at one of the congress sessions to present the Paper and the research it constitutes.

The winners

2015: Marijke Talsma, Kristina Bengtsson Boström & Anna-Lena Östberg
Facing suspected child abuse--what keeps Swedish general practitioners from reporting to child protective services?
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 2015; 33: 21-6.

‘This is a cross-sectional questionnaire study with 177 GPs and GP trainees. It showed that despite mandatory reporting, 20% of all physicians had at some point suspected but not reported child abuse. The main reasons for non-reporting were uncertainty about the suspicion and use of alternative strategies; for instance, referral to other health care providers or follow-up of the family by the treating physician. The authors concluded that the communication and cooperation between GPs and child protective services needs to be improved and there is also a need for continued education and guidelines.

Both referees and the panel thought it is important to bring up the topic of underreporting of child abuse in primary health care. The approach of the paper was relevant and results useful for GPs.’

2016: Kristine Heitmann, Hans Christian Svendsen, Ingvild Sporsheim & Lone Holst
Nausea in pregnancy: attitudes among pregnant women and general practitioners on treatment and pregnancy care.
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 2016; 34: 13-20.

‘This is a qualitative focus group study. Focus group discussions were conducted both with pregnant women and with GPs. The study identified attitudes among GPs and pregnant women that may act as obstacles to appropriate care for women with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. The pregnant women and the GPs seemed to talk at cross-purposes; GPs’ normalization of the symptoms made the women feel that their distress due to nausea and vomiting was trivialized by the GPs. The results indicated that pregnant women with nausea and vomiting requiring medical treatment probably need comprehensive and reassuring information about treatment options before considering using any medicines.

The panel thought this is an example of a well designed and conducted study about conflicting views and experiences. Results are relevant for clinical practice with a potential for change.’

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