Social Prescribing Intervention Research Articles

Comparing cognitive behavioral therapy and social prescribing in patients with loneliness on long-term opioid therapy to reduce opioid misuse: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPatients with chronic pain on opioids frequently experience loneliness, which is associated with poorer health outcomes and higher risk for opioid misuse and opioid use disorder. Given that almost half of opioids are prescribed in primary care, a critical need exists for the development and testing of interventions to reduce loneliness in primary care patients at risk for opioid misuse. Cognitive behavioral therapy and social prescribing have been shown to be efficacious in reducing loneliness and improving outcomes in other populations but have not been tested in patients at risk for substance use disorder. The overall objective of our study is to reduce opioid misuse and opioid use disorder by addressing loneliness in patients on long-term opioid therapy in real-world primary care settings.MethodsWe will conduct a 3-arm pragmatic, randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of two group-based, telehealth-delivered interventions with treatment as usual: (1) cognitive behavioral therapy to address maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors around social connection and (2) a social prescribing intervention to connect participants with social opportunities and develop supportive social networks. Our primary outcome is loneliness as measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale and our dependent secondary outcome is opioid misuse as measured by the Common Opioid Misuse Measure. We will recruit 102 patients on long-term opioid therapy who screen positive for loneliness from 2 health care systems in Washington State. Implementation outcomes will be assessed using the RE-AIM framework.DiscussionOur study is innovative because we are targeting loneliness, an under-addressed but critical social risk factor that may prevent opioid misuse and use disorder in the setting where most patients are receiving their opioid prescriptions for chronic pain. If successful, the project will have a positive impact in reducing loneliness, reducing opioid misuse, improving function and preventing substance use disorder.Trial RegistrationNCT06285032, issue date: February 28, 2024, original.

An evaluation of the role of social identity processes for enhancing health outcomes within UK‐based social prescribing initiatives designed to increase social connection and reduce loneliness: A systematic review

AbstractThe UK's National Health Service has introduced Social Prescribing initiatives to tackle loneliness and ill‐health, yet it lacks a theoretical foundation and evidence base for Social Prescribing's effectiveness. Recent research applies the Social Identity Approach to Health (SIAH) to explain Social Prescribing's health benefits, emphasising how social connection unlocks health‐enhancing psychological mechanisms. This systematic review therefore aims to assess UK‐based Social Prescribing programmes designed to boost social connection and alleviate loneliness, examining programme efficacy and the role of SIAH processes in health outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, a narrative synthesis of articles published from May 5, 2006 (when social prescribing was first introduced in the NHS), to April 8, 2024, was conducted, and their quality assessed using CONSORT‐SPI (2018). Of these programmes, 10 employed a mixed‐methods design, 8 qualitative and 1 quantitative service evaluation, totalling 3,298 participants. Results indicate that Social Prescribing's psychological value lies in quality rather than quantity of social connections, with meaningful connections fostering shared identity, perceived support and self‐efficacy, the latter of which sustains social engagement post‐programme. The SIAH was a useful tool for mapping mixed‐methods findings onto a common theoretical framework to highlight these key proponents. Overall, this review underscores the importance of SIAH‐informed Social Prescribing interventions in enhancing social connectedness, reducing loneliness, and promoting overall health. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

Development of a new social prescribing intervention for families of children with cerebral palsy.

To co-design a social prescribing intervention (the EPIC-CP programme: Equitable Pathways and Integrated Care in Cerebral Palsy) with children with cerebral palsy (CP), their families, and clinicians to address unmet social needs. The study was conducted (August 2021 to March 2023) at the paediatric rehabilitation departments of the three tertiary paediatric hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Eligible participants attended or worked at one of the departments, including children with CP, parents/caregivers, and clinicians. Mixed-methods co-design was used in intervention co-production and prototyping. The project was overseen by research advisors with lived experience of CP. More than 200 participants contributed to the co-design research. Families experienced a substantial burden of unmet social needs. Co-designed interventions involved systematic identification of unmet social needs with (1) targeted community resources and (2) engagement with a 'community linker' who supported children/young people and their families to access health, education, and social services that matched their identified needs and preferences. Research participants co-developed the programme logic model and prototype. This was piloted in research action cycles and iteratively refined until consensus was achieved. We co-designed a social prescribing programme responsive to the needs of its end-users and purposefully developed to be embedded in the Australian health setting. A pilot randomized controlled trial will further evaluate this intervention.

EPIC-CP pilot trial study protocol: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial investigating the feasibility and acceptability of social prescribing for Australian children with cerebral palsy

IntroductionThe social determinants of health contribute to poorer health outcomes for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and are barriers to families accessing health services. At an individual level, social determinants...

The effectiveness of social prescribing in the management of long-term conditions in community-based adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of social prescribing interventions in the management of long-term conditions in adults. Data sources Eleven electronic databases were searched for randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials. Review Methods Outcomes of interest were quality of life, physical activity, psychological well-being and disease-specific measures. Bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. A narrative synthesis and meta-analysis were performed. Results Twelve studies (n = 3566) were included in this review. Social prescribing interventions were heterogeneous and the most common risks of bias were poor blinding and high attrition. Social prescribing interventions designed to target specific long-term conditions i.e., cancer and diabetes demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life (n = 2 studies) and disease-specific psychological outcomes respectively (n = 3 studies). There was some evidence for improvement in physical activity (n = 2 studies) but most changes were within group only (n = 4 studies). Social prescribing interventions did not demonstrate any significant changes in general psychological well-being. Conclusion Social prescribing interventions demonstrated some improvements across a range of outcomes although the quality of evidence remains poor.

Outcomes and instruments used in social prescribing: a modified umbrella review.

Previous social prescribing work highlights a range in the types and number of outcomes used in published studies. We aimed to describe social prescribing outcome core areas and instruments to build capacity for future research and program evaluation. This was a modified umbrella review following standard guidelines. We registered the study and searched multiple databases (all languages and years); inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed publications containing outcomes for self-described social prescribing for adults aged 18 years and older. The last search date was 9 July 2023. From the included systematic reviews, we identified primary studies using the same inclusion criteria. For primary studies, we sorted extracted outcomes and instruments into six core areas using a published taxonomy. We located information on instruments' description and measurement properties and conducted two rating rounds for (1) the quality of systematic reviews and (2) reporting of instruments in primary studies. We conducted a narrative synthesis of reviews, primary studies and outcomes (PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023434061). We identified 10 systematic reviews and 33 primary studies for inclusion in our review. Outcomes covered most core taxonomy areas, with an emphasis on psychosocial factors (e.g. well-being) and less emphasis on cognition, physical activity, and caregivers and volunteers. We noted few studies provided detailed information on demographic data of participants or measurement properties of instruments. This synthesis provides an overview and identifies knowledge gaps for outcomes and instruments used in social prescribing interventions. This work forms the basis of our next step of identifying social prescribing-related outcomes that matter most across interested parties, such as individuals providers and decision makers.

The process of co-designing a model of social prescribing: An Australian case study.

Social needs such as housing, employment, food, incomeand social isolation are having a significant impact on individuals, familiesand communities. Individuals are increasingly presenting to health settings with social needs, which are ill-equipped to address nonmedical needs. Social prescribing is a systematic approach connecting the health, social and community sectors to better address social needs and improve health and wellbeing. Social prescribing interventions are being implemented world-wide. With variability in health and social care systems internationally, it is important that social prescribing interventions are co-designed with key stakeholders to ensure they can be implemented and sustained within local systems. This Australian case study provides a detailed description of the process undertaken to co-design a social prescribing service model in a regional area. Four co-design workshops were undertaken, two with health and social care professionals and two with community members. The project followed an iterative process of resourcing, planning, recruiting, sensitising, facilitation, reflectionand building for change across the workshops. Through this process, key stakeholders were able to successfully co-design a social prescribing model of care for the region. By demonstrating the process and materials used in our project, we aim to open the 'black box' of co-design for social prescribing and provide ideas and resources for others to adapt and utilise. The project was designed and undertaken by a steering committee comprising university-based researchers (authors C. O. andS. B.), local government (author D. A.)and health, socialand community services (authors B. G., M. W., J. O.andS. R.). Members of the steering committee participated in project design, participant recruitment, workshopfacilitation, data analysisand interpretation.

The delivery of creative socially prescribed activities for people with serious mental health needs during lockdown: Learning about remote, digital and hybrid delivery.

Social prescribing interventions connect mental health service users to community resources, to support physical and mental wellbeing and promote recovery. COVID-19 restrictions impacted the delivery of socially prescribed activities, preventing face to face contact for long periods. The aim of this study was to understand how Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations working with a local NHS mental health Trust responded to the challenges of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This understanding will be used to make recommendations for future practice, post-lockdown. Using a convergent mixed methods design, we surveyed VCSE providers of socially prescribed activities intended to be accessible and appropriate for people with severe mental health needs. Follow-up interviews explored further how they adapted during the first year of the pandemic, the challenges they faced, and how they sought to overcome them. The survey and interview data were analysed separately and then compared to identify convergent and divergent findings. Twenty VCSE representatives completed the survey which provided a snapshot of changes in levels of connection and numbers reached during lockdown. Of 20 survey respondents, 11 participated in follow-up interviews. Interviews revealed that lockdown necessitated rapid change and responsive adaptation; activities were limited by resource, funding, safeguarding and government restrictions; no single format suited all group members; connection was key; and impact was difficult to gauge. VCSE organisations commissioned to deliver creative socially prescribed activities during the pandemic rapidly adapted their offer to comply with government restrictions. Responsive changes were made, and new knowledge and skills were gained. Drawing on experiences during lockdown, VCSE organisations should develop bespoke knowledge, skills and practices to engage service users in future hybrid delivery of arts, sports, cultural and creative community activities, and to ensure that digital activities offer an equivalent degree of connection to face-to-face ones. Additionally, more effective methods of gaining feedback about patient experience of hybrid delivery is needed.

Carmine Maria Pariante: Understanding why and how stress makes us ill

Carmine M. Pariante is Professor of Biological Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, and Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. He investigates the role of stress and inflammation in the pathogenesis of mental disorders and in the response to psychotropic drugs, both in clinical and experimental settings. His work focuses on depression and fatigue, with a particular interest in the perinatal period and individuals with medical disorders. More recently, he has developed an interest in the effects of the arts, social prescribing, and nutritional interventions on mental health. Since 2018, Professor Pariante has been a Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher, and, as of April 2024, he has published >520 publications, with close to 40,000 citations and an H-Index of 103 in Scopus and 137 in Google Scholar. He is also the appointed Editor in Chief of the journal Brain Behaviour and Immunity and the Past President of the International Society for Psychoneuroendocrinology. Professor Pariante is also passionate about public engagement and has made many media appearances in newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV on topics broadly related to mental health, writing pieces for the Daily Mail, The Guardian, and the New Humanist. He can be followed on X and Instagram on @Pariantelab and the digital publication he edits, www.inspirethemind.org. It is gratifying to see Professor Pariante share insights into his professional and personal voyage during the Genomic Press interview.

‘One Is Too Many’ preventing self-harm and suicide in military veterans: a quantitative evaluation

IntroductionIn 2021, the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust allocated over £2 million to programmes designed to have a clear and demonstrable impact on suicide prevention. Four grant holders delivered a...

PROTOCOL: Effects of social prescribing for older adults: An evidence and gap map.

Objectives This is the protocol for an evidence and gap map. The objectives are as follows: The aim of this evidence and gap map is to map the available evidence on the effectiveness of social prescribing interventions addressing a non-medical, health-related social need for older adults in any setting. Specific objectives are as follows: 1.To identify existing evidence from primary studies and systematic reviews on the effects of community-based interventions that address non-medical, health-related social needs of older adults to improve their health and wellbeing.2.To identify research evidence gaps for new high-quality primary studies and systematic reviews.3.To highlight evidence of health equity considerations from included primary studies and systematic reviews.

Theories used to develop or evaluate social prescribing in studies: a scoping review

ObjectiveThis scoping review aims to provide an overview of how theories were used in the development or evaluation of social prescribing (SP) intervention studies.BackgroundSP describes a patient pathway where general practitioners (GPs) connect patients with community activities through referrals to link workers. This review seeks to understand the explanations provided for the outcomes and implementation process of SP.Inclusion criteriaStudies using a defined theory to develop or evaluate a specific SP intervention in primary care and the community sector.MethodsThis scoping review was conducted in accordance with JBI methodology. The following databases were searched on 8th of July 2022: PubMed, ASSIA, Cochrane, Cinahl, PsycINFO, Social Care Online, Sociological s, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search only considered English language texts. Additional literature was identified by searching relevant web pages and by contacting experts. The selection of sources and the data extraction was done by two reviewers independently.ResultsThe search resulted in 4240 reports, of which 18 were included in the scoping review. Of these, 16 were conducted in the UK, one in Canada and one in Australia. The majority of reports employed a qualitative approach (11/18). Three were study protocols. 11 distinct theories were applied to explain outcomes (4 theories), differences in outcomes (3 theories), and the implementation of the intervention (4 theories). In terms of practical application, the identified theories were predominantly used to explain and understand qualitative findings. Only one theory was used to define variables for hypothesis testing. All theories were used for the evaluation and none for the development of SP.ConclusionThe theories influenced which outcomes the evaluation assessed, which causal pathway was expected to generate these outcomes, and which methodological approaches were used. All three groups of theories that were identified focus on relevant aspects of SP: fostering positive patient/community outcomes, addressing inequalities by considering the context of someone’s individual circumstances, and successfully implementing SP by collaboratively working across professions and institutional boundaries. Additional insight is required regarding the optimal use of theories in practical applications.

Experience and perceptions of Social Prescribing interventions; a qualitative study with people with long-term conditions, link workers and health care providers

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 toeight participants will be recruited into three specific 60 to 90 minute focus groups relative to their role as a patient, link worker and community-based service. 8 to12 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.

Nature-based social interventions for people experiencing loneliness: the rationale and overview of the RECETAS project

ABSTRACT Loneliness is a major social concern with health consequences worldwide for populations across different demographic, cultural, social, economic, geographic, and environmental contexts. In March 2021, we launched Horizon 2020 European Commission-funded project, ‘Reimagining Environments for Connection and Engagement: Testing Actions for Social Prescribing in Natural Spaces (RECETAS)’ to reduce loneliness and promote health-related quality of life. In this paper, we present the project logic model, informed by stakeholder input, that aims to guide the initiative from its design and implementation to its evaluation in six cities across three continents, including Europe (Barcelona, Helsinki, Marseille, Prague), Australia (Melbourne), and South America (Cuenca). This model is being used to guide the implementation and evaluation of nature-based social prescribing interventions. Process and outcome measures will be used to compare outcomes in different settings and population contexts. The use of a logic model with stakeholder input ensures that the interventions are responsive to local needs, sustainable, and transferable to other geographic, social, economic, and cultural contexts. Knowledge translation will be central to maximising impacts on population health, civil society, and health and social systems in urban areas.

Social prescribing for suicide prevention: a rapid review.

This rapid review delves into the realm of social prescribing as a novel approach to suicide prevention by addressing the social determinants of health. Through an exploration of various databases including MEDLINE, PsychInfo, WILEY, and Sage, a total of 3,063 articles were initially identified as potentially relevant to the research. Following a meticulous screening process, 13 articles were included in the final review, shedding light on the potential effectiveness and impact of social prescribing interventions on suicide prevention. Key findings indicate the need for additional monitoring and support for individuals at risk of suicide, emphasising warm referrals and sustained connections after referral to enhance the efficacy of social prescribing models. The review also highlights the importance of social capital and trust among vulnerable populations, underscoring the significance of community-based referrals in suicide prevention initiatives. Overall, this review identifies the potential of social prescribing as a valuable tool in mitigating suicide risk factors and promoting mental health and wellbeing in diverse populations.

Implementing and embedding Social Prescribing successfully: what works, for whom and in which context?

Background: Integrating healthcare and social care is necessary because a substantial proportion of primary care clients receive unnecessary healthcare (not tailored to their social needs) which can lead to undesirable costs. Social prescribing is an innovative approach for more holistic person-centered care and aims to address clients’ social determinants of health. Often social prescribing services include link workers who support primary care patients to access community and voluntary care services. The aim is to replace the medical approach with a social approach to address patients’ needs. Previous literature has provided basic insights into how social prescribing can be implemented, especially in the early stages of implementation. Though little is known about how social prescribing can be fully embedded. This study provides guiding principles by which social prescribing can be implemented and embedded successfully and identifies which contextual factors and mechanisms influence these guiding principles.
 Methods: We conducted a Rapid Realist Review to understand what works, for whom in which context. This review consisted of three steps. The first step was to align the research questions with those of health/cure and care organizations. A local reference panel consisting of national organizations gave advice on the research questions and search strategy. Then, based on these questions a systematic search of the international peer-reviewed literature was conducted. Finally, a panel discussion was organized, engaging Dutch health care professionals working with social prescribing, to discuss what the international insights mean for their local contexts. This input helped to refine the literature review’s findings.
 Results: Preliminary results provided insight into what is needed for implementing and embedding social prescribing after a pilot phase. For example, investing in a change of culture mindset, enabling trust between health/cure and care professionals, creating facilitative conditions for professionals to work with social prescribing in daily practice. In this paper more detailed insights will be presented on the facilitators and barriers mechanisms for implementing and embedding social prescribing in healthcare and how they operate in different contexts. 
 Discussion: Internationally, social prescribing has gained more and more attention, and first implementation best practices have been identified. However, we found that different types of social prescribing interventions were implemented. We will reflect on how the guiding principles relate to the implementation and embedding of these different types of interventions. 
 
 Conclusion: Implementation and embedding of social prescribing is experienced as challenging, because of local differences in context, such as different populations and the way in which care is organized. The retrieved insights demonstrate which principles can be followed for implementation and embedding of social prescribing, for whom and in which context.
 Lessons Learned: We developed guiding principles for the embedding of social prescribing, and we provided insight into what this means for the context in the Netherlands.
 Suggestions for future research: Despite the increase in implementation, there is little knowledge on the effectiveness of social prescribing on health and wellbeing outcomes of patients, and changes in healthcare use. Future research should focus on gaining insight into the effectiveness and impact of social prescribing.
 
 
 

Beyond medication: Exploring social prescribing for mental ill health in Portugal

Abstract Mental ill health represents a priority challenge in public health due to its considerable burden on people's health and well-being, as well as economic consequences. Individuals with mental health problems have been presented with limited alternatives for improving their mental well-being, with medication being the most widely adopted solution. It is imperative that the focus shifts to prevention and the promotion of positive mental health. This can be achieved through non-medical alternatives, such as social prescribing (SP), a person-centered and intersectoral intervention. Some studies reveal that mental ill health is one of the most common reasons for referral to a SP service, with encouraging results about SP's benefits in mental health. SP has been implemented in Portugal since 2018, a country that had one of the highest prevalence of mental health disorders in the European Union. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of mental health-related referrals in Portugal and to describe the type of community services patients were referred to. Sociodemographic, health, and referral-related data was collected for 714 patients at primary healthcare units in Lisbon between 2018-2021. Results show that 53.6% of participants were aged between 26-65 and 66.9% were female. Approximately 20% were referred for mental health reasons and 65.5% had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Patients were referred to a range of third-sector organizations (associations, ONGs, municipalities) and activities (swimming, music classes, volunteering, pregnancy club), but no specific mental health services were identified among them. This could suggest that there is a lack of available mental health responses in the community or that they are not yet accessible to SP team. Further efforts are needed to map out these resources and reinforce the intersectoral work to create and promote mental well-being responses, to ensure access to mental health support for all. Key messages • There is a need to shift the focus towards prevention and promoting positive mental health through non-medical alternatives, such as social prescribing. • In SP in Portugal, there is a lack of available mental health resources in the community, suggesting the need for further efforts to create and promote mental well-being responses for all individuals.

Experience and perceptions of Social Prescribing interventions; a qualitative study with people with long-term conditions, link workers and health care providers.

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. Six toeight participants will be recruited into three specific 60 to 90 minute focus groups relative to their role as a patient, link worker and community-based service. 8 to12 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. 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.

O.2.1-8 Who are suitable targets for a social prescribing intervention addressing physical activity? A survey-based study including viewpoints from general practitioners

Abstract Purpose Social prescribing has been suggested as an inter-sectoral intervention to increase physical activity. In the intervention, healthcare professionals refer patients or citizens to a link worker who is assisting them to locate peer-based activities in their local community. The present study investigated which groups of physically inactive adults the Danish general practitioners reported as relevant target groups for a social prescribing intervention to increase the level of physical activity. Methods The study design was a descriptive survey-based study. Danish general practitioners completed an online survey. On 10-point interval scales, they rated the suitability of referring 25 selected target groups of physically inactive adults (18+) with medical conditions or health-threatening behaviour to a social prescribing intervention to increase their level of physical activity. A score of 0 referred to not suitable at all, whereas a score of 10 indicated highly suitable. Using non-parametric statistics, target groups were considered eligible for an intervention if the 25th percentile had a score of 8 or above indicating that 75% of the GPs reported a score of 8 or above. Results A total of 52 general practitioners completed the survey. Of these, 75% reported a score of 8 or above to Danes with metabolic syndrome (median=10; 25th percentile=9), overweight (median=10; 25th percentile=9), diabetes (median=10; 25th percentile=8), and low back pain (median=9; 25th percentile=8) indicating these to be target groups of social prescribing to increase the level of physical activity. GPs considered the following groups less suitable for an intervention: persons with eating disorders (median=4; 25th percentile=2), migraine (median=5; 25th percentile=3), and women during postpartum (median=6; 25th percentile=3). Data from open-ended questions added nuances to the ratings and suggested citizens struggling with loneliness to be a new target group for social prescribing. Conclusions A majority of the responding Danish GPs identified persons with metabolic syndrome, overweight, diabetes, and low back pain as being target groups suited for a social prescribing intervention to increase the level of physical activity. These results are interesting since several approaches to impede the level of physical inactivity exist, and political and organizational efforts have become subject of the recent attention.

Experience and perceptions of Social Prescribing interventions; a qualitative study with people with long-term conditions, link workers and health care providers

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 LTC, as part of an overall larger project.