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O'Sullivan DJ, Bearne LM, Harrington JM, McVeigh JG. Experience and perceptions of Social Prescribing interventions; a qualitative study with people with long-term conditions, link workers and health care providers. HRB Open Res 2023; 6:42. [PMID: 38283947 PMCID: PMC10822040 DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13762.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Long-term conditions (LTC) are a leading cause of reduced quality of life and early mortality. People with LTC are living longer with increasing economic and social needs. Novel patient centred care pathways are required to support traditional medical management of these patients. Social Prescribing (SP) has gained popularity as a non-medical approach to support patients with LTC and their unmet health needs. The current focus group study aims to explore the experiences and perceptions to SP interventions from the perspective of people with long-term conditions, link workers, healthcare providers and community-based services. Methods Six-eight participants will be recruited into three specific 60-minute focus groups relative to their role as a patient, link worker and community-based service. Eight-12 participants with a Health care provider and GP background will be interviewed individually online. The participants within these focus groups and semi-structured interviews will be invited to provide opinions on what factors they think are important to the successful implementation of a SP service from their respective stakeholder positions. The data will be recorded and exported to NVivo software for further analysis using Thematic Reflexive analysis methods. Coded categorical data will inform emerging themes from which a narrative summary will be consolidated and presented for dissemination. Conclusion The conclusions made from this study will help inform the next study, which will aim to develop a pilot SP service for patients with long-term musculoskeletal conditions as part of an overall larger project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Declan J. O'Sullivan
- Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Clinical Therapies, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork, T12X7OA, Ireland
| | - Lindsay M. Bearne
- Population Health Sciences Research Institute, University of London, Cranmer Terrace London, England, SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Janas M. Harrington
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork, T12 XF62, Ireland
| | - Joseph G. McVeigh
- Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Clinical Therapies, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork, T12X7OA, Ireland
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Sun Q, Loveday M, Nwe S, Morris N, Boxall E. Green Social Prescribing in Practice: A Case Study of Walsall, UK. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:6708. [PMID: 37681848 PMCID: PMC10487442 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a case study of Green Social Prescribing (GSP) in Walsall, a medium-sized urban area located in the West Midlands, UK. GSP is a means of enabling health professionals to refer people to a range of local non-clinical nature-based activities, e.g., community gardening and conservation volunteering. As a new practice to address multiple challenges in health and sustainability, GSP has been promoted by the UK government and the NHS in the past few years. There is as yet limited evidence and knowledge about how this approach is implemented at a local level. This paper addresses this gap of knowledge, by exploring how GSP is implemented in Walsall as a case study. Based on extensive engagement and research activities with the local partners to collect data, this paper reveals the local contexts of GSP, the referral pathways, and people's lived experience, discussing the challenges, barriers, and opportunities in delivering GSP at the local level. This study suggests that a more collaborative and genuine place-based approach is essential, and alongside GSP, investment into infrastructure is needed to move the health paradigm further from 'prevention' to 'promotion' so that more people can benefit from what nature can offer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Sun
- School of Design, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, UK; (M.L.)
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Kurpas D, Mendive JM, Vidal-Alaball J, Petrazzuoli F, Morad M, Kloppe T, Herrman W, Mrduljaš-Đujić N, Kenkre J. European Perspective on How Social Prescribing Can Facilitate Health and Social Integrated Care in the Community. Int J Integr Care 2023; 23:13. [PMID: 37151777 PMCID: PMC10162193 DOI: 10.5334/ijic.7636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Social Prescribing is a mechanism by which primary care team members can refer patients to community groups to improve their health and well-being. It integrates health, social care, and community, allowing patients to actively improve their health and well-being by participating in community initiatives and activities. These activities have traditionally been part of community life in European countries, and the benefits need to be consistently recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donata Kurpas
- Health Sciences Faculty, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
- WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation Special Interest Group, Poland
- European Rural and Isolated Practitioner Association (EURIPA), Poland
| | - Juan Manuel Mendive
- European Rural Isolated Practitioner Association, WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation Special Interest Group, Spain
- Institut Català de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Vidal-Alaball
- WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation Special Interest Group, Spain
- European Rural and Isolated Practitioner Association (EURIPA), Spain
- Institut Català de la Salut and University of Vic, Cataluña, Spain
| | - Ferdinando Petrazzuoli
- WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation Special Interest Group, Sweden
- European Rural and Isolated Practitioner Association (EURIPA), Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Centre for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Mohammed Morad
- WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation Special Interest Group, Israel
- European Rural and Isolated Practitioner Association (EURIPA), Israel
- Department of family medicine, Community Health Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
| | - Thomas Kloppe
- WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation Special Interest Group, Germany
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Wolfram Herrman
- WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation Special Interest Group, Germany
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Nataša Mrduljaš-Đujić
- WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation Special Interest Group, Croatia
- European Rural and Isolated Practitioner Association (EURIPA), Croatia
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Split, School of Medicine, Croatia
| | - Joyce Kenkre
- WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation Special Interest Group, UK
- European Rural and Isolated Practitioner Association (EURIPA), UK
- University of South Wales, UK
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Costa A, Lopes J, Sousa CJ, Santos O, Virgolino A, Nogueira P, Henriques A, Seabra P, Capitão C, Martins R, Arriaga M, Alarcão V. Developing a social prescribing local system in a European Mediterranean country: a feasibility study to promote active and healthy aging. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:1164. [PMID: 34706718 PMCID: PMC8548849 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-07186-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social Prescribing (SP) is an innovative strategy to respond to the non-clinical health needs of the population. A Social Prescribing Local System (SPLS) can be defined as a set of joined community, health, and social organizations to foster SP-oriented activities. This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of an SPLS implemented in a Mediterranean country, to promote health and wellbeing and contribute to active and healthy aging. METHODS A mixed-methods approach was followed, including three sequential components: 1) Cross-sectional online survey targeting health professionals (HP) working in a primary health care cluster, Portugal's southern region; 2) Pilot study implementing an on-the-job training program for HP, designed to meet identified training needs in the survey; 3) Focus group (FG) with the HP who participated in the pilot study, two individual interviews, with an elderly patient and a community provider for assessing the satisfaction with the pilot test. RESULTS Sixty-five HP completed the survey; of these, 13 completed the theoretical part of the on-the-job training program; and six (out of these 13) completed the full program. Five HP participated in the FG, one patient and one community provider were interviewed. The surveyed HP perceived as facilitators to implement SP: an automatic system of notifications to prompt the use of SP, contribute to patient satisfaction, human and community resources' stability. The survey also highlighted barriers to SP implementation: length of appointments, shortage of human resources, data records confidentiality, low patient adherence rates, bureaucratic issues, time constraints, and financial costs. Participants were satisfied with the training. Identified SPLS implementation benefits were grouped into four dimensions (from the qualitative approach): gains for patients' health and wellbeing, support for the health services, sustainability of the community resources, and HP' professional satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS Our study took the first steps towards the implementation of an SPLS. Findings reinforce that training HP in SP and on-the-job training seems feasible. This approach was well received and appears to represent a suitable and sustainable strategy. It can promote professional satisfaction, support health services, contribute to the stability of community resources, improve health and promote active and healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Costa
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon (ESEL), 1600-096, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Católica Research Centre for Psychological, Family and Social Wellbeing, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Palma de Cima, 1649-023, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - J Lopes
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon (ESEL), 1600-096, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - C J Sousa
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - O Santos
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Unbreakable Idea Research, Lda, 2550-426, Painho, Portugal
| | - A Virgolino
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - P Nogueira
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Laboratório de Biomatemática, Instituto de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde pública, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A Henriques
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon (ESEL), 1600-096, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - P Seabra
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon (ESEL), 1600-096, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - C Capitão
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - R Martins
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M Arriaga
- Católica Research Centre for Psychological, Family and Social Wellbeing, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Palma de Cima, 1649-023, Lisbon, Portugal
- Directorate-General for Health, Health Literacy and Wellbeing Division, Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques, 1000-123, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - V Alarcão
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação e Estudos de Sociologia, ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Avenida das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisbon, Portugal
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Wood E, Ohlsen S, Fenton SJ, Connell J, Weich S. Social prescribing for people with complex needs: a realist evaluation. BMC Fam Pract 2021; 22:53. [PMID: 33736591 PMCID: PMC7977569 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01407-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social Prescribing is increasingly popular, and several evaluations have shown positive results. However, Social Prescribing is an umbrella term that covers many different interventions. We aimed to test, develop and refine a programme theory explaining the underlying mechanisms operating in Social Prescribing to better enhance its effectiveness by allowing it to be targeted to those who will benefit most, when they will benefit most. METHODS We conducted a realist evaluation of a large Social Prescribing organisation in the North of England. Thirty-five interviews were conducted with stakeholders (clients attending Social Prescribing, Social Prescribing staff and general practice staff). Through an iterative process of analysis, a series of context-mechanism-outcome configurations were developed, refined and retested at a workshop of 15 stakeholders. The initial programme theory was refined, retested and 'applied' to wider theory. RESULTS Social Prescribing in this organisation was found to be only superficially similar to collaborative care. A complex web of contexts, mechanisms and outcomes for its clients are described. Key elements influencing outcomes described by stakeholders included social isolation and wider determinants of health; poor interagency communication for people with multiple needs. Successful Social Prescribing requires a non-stigmatising environment and person-centred care, and shares many features described by the asset-based theory of Salutogenesis. CONCLUSIONS The Social Prescribing model studied is holistic and person-centred and as such enables those with a weak sense of coherence to strengthen this, access resistance resources, and move in a health promoting or salutogenic direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Wood
- School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK.
| | - Sally Ohlsen
- School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK
| | - Sarah-Jane Fenton
- Institute for Mental Health, School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Janice Connell
- School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK
| | - Scott Weich
- School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK
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Rempel ES, Wilson EN, Durrant H, Barnett J. Preparing the prescription: a review of the aim and measurement of social referral programmes. BMJ Open 2017; 7:e017734. [PMID: 29025843 PMCID: PMC5652530 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 07/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our aim is to review, and qualitatively evaluate, the aims and measures of social referral programmes. Our first objective is to identify the aims of social referral initiatives. Our second objective is to identify the measures used to evaluate whether the aims of social referral were met. DESIGN Literature review. BACKGROUND Social referral programmes, also called social prescribing and emergency case referral, link primary and secondary healthcare with community services, often under the guise of decreasing health system costs. METHOD Following the PRISMA guidelines, we undertook a literature review to address that aim. We searched in five academic online databases and in one online non-academic search engine, including both academic and grey literature, for articles referring to 'social prescribing' or 'community referral'. RESULTS We identified 41 relevant articles and reports. After extracting the aims, measures and type of study, we found that most social referral programmes aimed to address a wide variety of system and individual health problems. This included cost savings, resource reallocation and improved mental, physical and social well-being. Across the 41 studies and reports, there were 154 different kinds of measures or methods of evaluation identified. Of these, the most commonly used individual measure was the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, used in nine studies and reports. CONCLUSIONS These inconsistencies in aims and measures used pose serious problems when social prescribing and other referral programmes are often advertised as a solution to health services-budgeting constraints, as well as a range of chronic mental and physical health conditions. We recommend researchers and local community organisers alike to critically evaluate for whom, where and why their social referral programmes 'work'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma N Wilson
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Hannah Durrant
- Institute for Policy Research, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Julie Barnett
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Institute for Policy Research, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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