Link workers’ perspectives on factors enabling and preventing client engagement with social prescribing

Wildman, Josephine M; Moffatt, Suzanne; Penn, Linda; O’Brien, Nicola; Steer, Mel; Hill, Colin

doi:10.1111/hsc.12716

Cited by 55 publications

(119 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…While limited literature exists regarding how SP produces positive outcomes, our findings mirror themes identified in studies conducted by Hanlon et al 10 , Kellezi et al 3 and Payne et al 11 , among others that studied uptake and adherence of SP. 6,[25][26][27] Participants in Hanlon et al's study emphasized the importance of having the power to set their own priorities in regards to their health. 10 In all three studies, participants valued the personal and tailored interactions they had with their SP navigator and their use of an empathetic approach.…”

Section: Comparison With Existing Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Using self-determination theory to understand the social prescribing process: a qualitative study

et al. 2021

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BackgroundSocial prescribing assists patients to engage insocial activities and connect to community supports as part of a holistic approach to primary care. Rx: Community was a social prescribing project, implemented within 11 community health centres situated across Ontario, Canada.AimsTo explore how social prescribing as a process facilitates positive outcomes for patients.Design and settingWe used qualitative methods, conducting 18 focus groups involving 88 patients and 8 additional in-depth interviews.MethodsInterviews and focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using a theoretical framework based onself-determination theory.ResultsParticipants who had received social prescriptions described social prescribing as an empathetic process that respects their needs and interests. Social prescribing facilitated the patient’s voice in their care, helped patient’s develop skills in addressing needs important to them, and fostered trusting relationships with staff and other participants. Patients reported their social support networks were expanded, and they had improved mental health and ability in self-management of chronic conditions. Patients who became involved in social prescribing as voluntary “health champions” reported this was a positive experience and they gained a sense of purpose by giving back to their communities in ways that felt meaningful for them.ConclusionSocial prescribing produced positive outcomes for patients, and fit well within the community health centre model of primarycare. Future research should examine the impact on health outcomes and examine the return on investment of developing and implementing social prescribing programs.

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Section: Comparison With Existing Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Using self-determination theory to understand the social prescribing process: a qualitative study

et al. 2021

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“…This is contingent on physicians initiating these relationships; Wildman et al . () found that link workers felt that inconsistent referrals served as a barrier to performing their role. Strong state–society relationships can be used as a means to compel health professionals to prioritise relationships with LCHWs.…”

Section: Implications and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward an institutional perspective on social capital health interventions: lay community health workers as social capital builders

Adams

2019

Sociology Health & Illness

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This article argues that social capital health research should move beyond a mere focus on social cohesion and network perspectives to integrate an institutional approach into the development of social capital health interventions. An institutional perspective, which is unique in its emphasis on linking social capital in addition to the bonding and bridging forms, contextualises social capital, allowing researchers to confront the complexity of social relationships. This perspective allows for the construction of interventions that draw on the resources of diverse actors, particularly the state. One intervention strategy with the potential to create community linkages involves lay community health workers (LCHWs), individuals who are trained to perform a variety of health-related functions but lack a formal professional health education. This article begins with a review of the institutional social capital-building literature. It then goes on to briefly review the social capital and health literature and discuss the state of intervention research. Thereafter, it describes LCHWs and discusses studies that have utilised LCHWs to tackle community health problems. In doing so, this article presents an institutional-based systematic framework for how LCHWs can build social capital, including a discussion of the ways in which LCHWs can successfully promote bonding, bridging and linking social capital.

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“…However, most evidence on social prescribing to date is from the perspective of the patient and their outcomes. Various studies have shown the benefits of the link worker role to patients, and some are also starting to evaluate social prescribing from the perspective of link workers [21,22]. But the role of the GP in social prescribing is less well understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social prescribing for individuals with mental health problems: a qualitative study of barriers and enablers experienced by general practitioners

Aughterson

Baxter

2020

BMC Fam Pract

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Background There is growing evidence for the use of social prescribing as a means to improve the mental health of patients. However, there are gaps in understanding the barriers and enablers faced by General Practitioners (GPs) when engaging in social prescribing for patients with mental health problems. Methods This study uses a qualitative approach involving one-to-one interviews with GPs from across the UK. The COM-B model was used to elucidate barriers and enablers, and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and a Behaviour Change Theory and Techniques tool was used to identify interventions that could address these. Results GPs recognised the utility of social prescribing in addressing the high levels of psychosocial need they saw in their patient population, and expressed the need to de-medicalise certain patient problems. GPs were driven by a desire to help patients, and so they benefited from regular positive feedback to reinforce the value of their social prescribing referrals. They also discussed the importance of developing more robust evidence on social prescribing, but acknowledged the challenges of conducting rigorous research in community settings. GPs lacked the capacity, and formal training, to effectively engage with community groups for patients with mental health problems. Link workers, when available to GPs, were of fundamental importance in bridging the gap between the GP and community. The formation of trusting relationships was crucial at different points of the social prescribing pathway, with patients needing to trust GPs in order for them to agree to see a link worker or attend a community activity, and GPs requiring a range of strong inter-personal skills in order to gain patients’ trust and motivate them. Conclusion This study elucidates the barriers and enablers to social prescribing for patients with mental health problems, from the perspectives of GPs. Recommended interventions include a more systematic feedback structure for GPs and more formal training around social prescribing and developing the relevant inter-personal skills. This study provides insight for GPs and other practice staff, commissioners, managers, providers and community groups, to help design and deliver future social prescribing services.

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Link workers’ perspectives on factors enabling and preventing client engagement with social prescribing

Cited by 55 publications

References 17 publications

Using self-determination theory to understand the social prescribing process: a qualitative study

Using self-determination theory to understand the social prescribing process: a qualitative study

Toward an institutional perspective on social capital health interventions: lay community health workers as social capital builders

Social prescribing for individuals with mental health problems: a qualitative study of barriers and enablers experienced by general practitioners

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