2011 and 2012

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 2011 and 2012 at the opening ceremony at the Nordic Congress for General Practice in Tampere, August 2013. Both winners were rewarded participation free of charge to the Nordic Congress in Tampere 2013, and were given a specific time slot at one of the congress sessions to present the Paper and the research it constitutes.

The winners

2011: Sune Rubak, Anneli Sandbæk, Torsten Lauritzen, Knut Borch-Johnsen, Bo Christensen
Effect of “motivational interviewing” on quality of care measures in screen detected type 2 diabetes patients: A one-year follow-up of an RCT, ADDITION Denmark
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, June 2011, Vol. 29, No. 2: 92-98.

2012: Karin Frydenberg, Mette Brekke
Poor communication on patients’ medication across health care levels leads to potentially harmful medication errors
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, Dec 2012, Vol. 30, No. 4: 234–240.

The authors of “Paper of the Year 2011” would like to know if “motivational interviewing” would have a special effect on patients with type 2 diabetes when motivating lifestyle changes intensively. A randomised controlled trial was conducted where GPs were trained in “motivational interviewing”. The study did not find any special effect of “motivational interviewing”. The award was granted because the board found that the study was well performed and important to clinical general practice.

The background for ”Paper of the Year 2012” was to explore general practice’s role in relation to errors in patients’ medication which happens when patients cross health care levels. The study investigated 30 Norwegian patients who were urgently admitted to the medical ward. Results showed 50 medication errors and half of them originated from an incomplete medication list in the referral letter. The board found the study original and important, and with great importance to patient safety in the health care system.