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Khan K, Tierney S, Owen G. Applying an equity lens to social prescribing. J Public Health (Oxf) 2024; 46:458-462. [PMID: 38918883 PMCID: PMC11358631 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdae105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social prescribing is often described as an intervention that can help reduce health inequalities yet there is little evidence exploring this. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of accessing and analysing social prescribing (SP) service user data to demonstrate the impact of SP on health inequalities. METHODS The sample size consisted of records for 276 individuals in Site 1 and 1644 in Site 2. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess the characteristics of people accessing SP, the consistency of data collected and the missingness across both sites. RESULTS Both sites collected basic demographic data (age gender, ethnicity and deprivation). However, data collection was inconsistent; issues included poor recording of ethnicity in Site 2, and for both sites, referral source data and health and well-being outcome measures were missing. There was limited data on the wider determinants of health. These data gaps mean that impacts on health inequalities could not be fully explored. CONCLUSIONS It is essential that SP data collection includes information on user demographics and the wider determinants of health in line with PROGRESS Plus factors. Considering equity around who is accessing SP, how they access it and the outcomes is essential to evidencing how SP affects health inequalities and ensuring equitable service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koser Khan
- National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR ARC-NWC), Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4AT, UK
| | - Stephanie Tierney
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HT, UK
| | - Gwilym Owen
- Department of Public Health Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, L69 3GF, UK
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Kiely B, Hobbins A, Boland F, Clyne B, Galvin E, Byers V, Loomba S, O'Donnell P, Connolly D, Shea EO', Smith SM. An exploratory randomised trial investigating feasibility, potential impact and cost effectiveness of link workers for people living with multimorbidity attending general practices in deprived urban communities. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2024; 25:233. [PMID: 38943076 PMCID: PMC11212363 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02482-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social prescribing link workers are non-health or social care professionals who connect people with psychosocial needs to non-clinical community supports. They are being implemented widely, but there is limited evidence for appropriate target populations or cost effectiveness. This study aimed to explore the feasibility, potential impact on health outcomes and cost effectiveness of practice-based link workers for people with multimorbidity living in deprived urban communities. METHODS A pragmatic exploratory randomised trial with wait-list usual care control and blinding at analysis was conducted during the COVID 19 pandemic (July 2020 to January 2021). Participants had two or more ongoing health conditions, attended a general practitioner (GP) serving a deprived urban community who felt they may benefit from a one-month practice-based social prescribing link worker intervention.. Feasibility measures were recruitment and retention of participants, practices and link workers, and completion of outcome data. Primary outcomes at one month were health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) and mental health (HADS). Potential cost effectiveness from the health service perspective was evaluated using quality adjusted life years (QALYs), based on conversion of the EQ-5D-5L and ICECAP-A capability index to utility scoring. RESULTS From a target of 600, 251 patients were recruited across 13 general practices. Randomisation to intervention (n = 123) and control (n = 117) was after baseline data collection. Participant retention at one month was 80%. All practices and link workers (n = 10) were retained for the trial period. Data completion for primary outcomes was 75%. There were no significant differences identified using mixed effects regression analysis in EQ-5D-5L (MD 0.01, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.09) or HADS (MD 0.05, 95% CI -0.63 to 0.73), and no cost effectiveness advantages. A sensitivity analysis that considered link workers operating at full capacity in a non-pandemic setting, indicated the probability of effectiveness at the €45,000 ICER threshold value for Ireland was 0.787 using the ICECAP-A capability index. CONCLUSIONS While the trial under-recruited participants mainly due to COVID-19 restrictions, it demonstrates that robust evaluations and cost utility analyses are possible. Further evaluations are required to establish cost effectiveness and should consider using the ICE-CAP-A wellbeing measure for cost utility analysis. REGISTRATION This trial is registered on ISRCTN. TITLE Use of link workers to provide social prescribing and health and social care coordination for people with complex multimorbidity in socially deprived areas. TRIAL ID ISRCTN10287737. Date registered 10/12/2019. Link: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN10287737.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Kiely
- Department of General Practice, Clinical Research Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Anna Hobbins
- Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM, RC/2073_P2) and Health Economics and Policy Analysis Centre, University of Galway, SFI 13, Galway, Ireland
| | - Fiona Boland
- Data Science Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Barbara Clyne
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emer Galvin
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vivienne Byers
- Environment Sustainability and Health Institute, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sonali Loomba
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patrick O'Donnell
- Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Deirdre Connolly
- Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eamon O ' Shea
- School of Business and Economics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Susan M Smith
- Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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Oster C, Bogomolova S. Potential lateral and upstream consequences in the development and implementation of social prescribing in Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health 2024; 48:100121. [PMID: 38171155 DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Candice Oster
- Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Svetlana Bogomolova
- Centre for Social Impact, College of Business, Government & Law, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Sonke J, Manhas N, Belden C, Morgan-Daniel J, Akram S, Marjani S, Oduntan O, Hammond G, Martinez G, Davidson Carroll G, Rodriguez AK, Burch S, Colverson AJ, Pesata V, Fancourt D. Social prescribing outcomes: a mapping review of the evidence from 13 countries to identify key common outcomes. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1266429. [PMID: 38020134 PMCID: PMC10660286 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1266429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction As a means for supporting a range of health and wellbeing goals, social prescribing programs have been implemented around the world. Reflecting a range of contexts, needs, innovation, and programing, a broad array of outcomes has been studied in relation to these programs. As interest in social prescribing grows, more targeted study of key outcomes and in turn evidence synthesis that can inform evidence-based practice, policy, and investment is needed. Methods and Results This mapping review identified, described, and synthesized the broad array of social prescribing outcomes that have been studied in 13 countries and maps the outcomes that have been most commonly studied. From 87 articles included in this review, a total of 347 unique outcomes were identified, including 278 unique patient outcomes and 69 unique system outcomes. The most commonly studied categories of patient outcomes were found to be mental health, lifestyle and behavior, and patient/service user experience. The most commonly studied system outcomes were healthcare/service utilization and financial/economic outcomes. Discussion This review highlights the value of heterogeneity and mixed methods approaches in outcomes studies for capturing nuanced experiences and outcomes in this nascent area of practice, while contributing to the advancement of evidence synthesis for social prescribing globally by quantifying and offering insight into the outcomes that have been studied to date. It also lays a foundation for the development of key common outcomes and a Core Outcomes Set for social prescribing. Additionally, it identified key outcomes that, given their relationship to critical health and social issues, warrant both broader and deeper study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill Sonke
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Nico Manhas
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Cassandra Belden
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jane Morgan-Daniel
- Health Science Center Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Seher Akram
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Stefany Marjani
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Oluwasanmi Oduntan
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Gabrielle Hammond
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Gabriella Martinez
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Gray Davidson Carroll
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexandra K. Rodriguez
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Shanaé Burch
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Aaron J. Colverson
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- School of Music, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Virginia Pesata
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Daisy Fancourt
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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