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Category: Analysis

Description: [ISRRF-10] Background: Social prescribing is promoted as a way of targeting socioeconomically deprived populations in need of direct healthcare intervention. Social prescribing interventions link patients in primary care with existing tertiary support services embedded within the community to address the health inequities in mental and physical wellbeing. Non-clinical laypersons often described as “Link Workers” or “Community Health Workers” actively facilitate the connection between patients and relevant community-based support schemes and services in order to complement and stimulate self-management capacity. There are many services available under a social prescribing model but most fall under education, physical activity, signposting, facilitating clinic appointments, and medication adherence. There is no consensus on a universal definition of social prescribing. Given the use of the word social, it does recognize the important role that people and local communities have to play. Randomized and quasi-randomized studies with social prescribing models using laypeople as link workers working with adults with any long-term condition will be included in this study. Studies with professionals (nurses, social workers, allied health practitioners) acting as link workers or studies with participants living in residential care will not be included in the review.