Abstract
Social prescriptions are increasingly being integrated into the medical curriculum – whether that be prescribing physical exercise for heart disease or a book group for depression. This is unknown territory for many medical students (and indeed doctors) with the risks and benefits being largely uncharted. Medical schools today adopt a holistic approach to medicine, teaching students to consider the whole patient rather than just their disease and encouraging shared decision making between doctor and patient. Social prescribing goes hand in hand with this, and so will undoubtedly become increasingly popular in the future despite conflicting evidence. For these reasons, it is important for medical students to understand exactly what social prescribing is and how it can potentially benefit their future patients.
Highlights
Social prescriptions are increasingly being integrated into the medical curriculum – whether that be prescribing physical exercise for heart disease or a book group for depression
The World Health Organisation places an emphasis on preventing disease and allowing patients to take control of their own health; (2) the Secretary of State for Health has expressed his view that the government should not “stand in the way of” what a GP thinks is necessary to improve a person’s health
Studies have shown that patients from more socially-deprived backgrounds rate consultations based on whether their doctor takes a holistic approach to care as opposed to the quality of care given
Summary
Everybody knows that one of a doctor’s main roles is to prescribe, whether that be pain medication for a joint problem, antibiotics for an infection or chemotherapy for cancer. Receiving a prescription could be a patient’s main expectation following a GP consultation, with many expecting a prescription involving a trip to the pharmacy and physical medication. Recent movements is diverging from this ‘traditional’ route and encouraging the prescription of a wider range of therapies, such as exercise or an art class. This may seem slightly odd to patients and convincing them of the benefits could potentially be a consultation in itself. Emerging evidence suggests that it could make a real difference to their health and wellbeing
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