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

## TL;DR

This study explores how Social Prescribing interventions are experienced and perceived by patients with long-term conditions, link workers, and healthcare providers.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into stakeholder perspectives on Social Prescribing for managing long-term conditions.

## Key findings

- Participants identified key factors for successful Social Prescribing implementation.
- Diverse stakeholder views highlight the importance of patient-centered care in Social Prescribing.
- Findings will inform the development of a pilot Social Prescribing service.

## 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 LTC, as part of an overall larger project.