The JLO best paper Prize 2020

The Journal of Laryngology and Otology annual best paper prize award was introduced in 2011 on the initiative of the then senior Editor Mr Guy Kenyon. Five prizes were initially made one each under the headings of best review paper, best main article, best laboratory-based research article, best case report and best short communication. A panel of four of the journals’ assistant editors review all papers published under the above headings and score them as previously described for importance in the field of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, originality and the quality of their content.  The top ranked papers based on the judges’ scores are then shortlisted for an adjudication meeting where additional editors’ views are canvassed. At the adjudication meeting the prize-winning papers are selected by consensus. In the period 2010- 2018 the selection committee took into consideration the relative interest of the paper to a general cross-section of attendees at the annual JLO Spring meeting, the ease with which the paper would lend itself to an audiovisual presentation, and aimed to reflect a range of sub-specialties including general Otolaryngology and a diverse geographic range of origins of the corresponding authors to reflect the international standing of the journal. One of the authors of each of the prize-winning papers was required to present their findings at the JLO study day.

The judges moved to awarding 2-3 prizes from the review and main article sections of the journal respectively from 2018 partly in response to a refocusing of the journal’s content that decreased the number of case reports and short-communications published. At the same time a change in the JLO study day format to focus more on trainee education resulted in insufficient time for the prize-winning authors’ presentations. The judges furthermore agreed that the prizes will be awarded to the best and runner up papers regardless of the sub-specialty focus of the papers or if they were published in the review or main article sections of the journal. These changes mean that the best paper prizes are now selected primarily on the criteria of importance, originality and content though the likely impact on future Otolaryngology practice is considered in the final selection.  The judges selected from the 2019 journal publications two papers titled – Value of patient-reported symptoms in the follow-up of patients potentially cured of laryngeal cancer by Brandstorp-Boesen J et al2 for the first prize and “Urgent suspicion of cancer” referrals to a head and neck clinic – what do patients expect? By Montgomery J et al3 for the runner up prize respectively. The editors congratulate the best paper prize-winning authors.

 

References

  1. Nunez D. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology best paper prize: 2011 scoring procedures. J Laryngol & Otol. 2011, 125: 1211-1211
  2. Brandstorp-Boesen J, Zatterstrom U, Evensen JF, Boysen M. Value pf patient-reported symptoms in the follow-up of patients potentially cured of laryngeal cancer. J Laryngol & Otol. 2019, 133: 508-514
  3. Montgomery J, Doughlas CM, Begbie F, Hitchings A, MacKenzie K. “Urgent suspicion of cancer” referrals to a head and neck clinic – what do patients expect? J Laryngol & Otol. 2019, 133: 782-7