Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Survey of general practitioners’ awareness, practice and perception of social prescribing across Europe

Evers, Sinah ; Kenkre, Joyce ; Kloppe, Thomas ; Kurpas, Donata ; Mendive, Juan M. ; Petrazzuoli, Ferdinando LU orcid and Vidal-Alaball, Josep (2024) In European Journal of General Practice 30(1).
Abstract

Background: Social prescribing (SP) is a patient pathway by which healthcare professionals connect patients with other sources of support, groups, or activities within their community. The awareness, practice, and perception of SP among GPs across Europe remains unclear. Objectives: To explore the awareness, practice, and perception of GPs on SP in the WONCA Europe region. Methods: An anonymous, cross-sectional online survey was distributed through a snowballing system, mailing lists, and at three international conferences in 2022/2023 to explore GPs’ awareness, practice, and perception of SP. The questionnaire in English contained 21 open and closed questions. Results: Of the 208 participating GPs from 33 countries, 116 (56%)... (More)

Background: Social prescribing (SP) is a patient pathway by which healthcare professionals connect patients with other sources of support, groups, or activities within their community. The awareness, practice, and perception of SP among GPs across Europe remains unclear. Objectives: To explore the awareness, practice, and perception of GPs on SP in the WONCA Europe region. Methods: An anonymous, cross-sectional online survey was distributed through a snowballing system, mailing lists, and at three international conferences in 2022/2023 to explore GPs’ awareness, practice, and perception of SP. The questionnaire in English contained 21 open and closed questions. Results: Of the 208 participating GPs from 33 countries, 116 (56%) previously heard of ‘social prescribing’ and 66 (32%) regularly referred patients to community activities through a formal system. These 66 GPs reported different funding sources and varied activities, with an average of four activities and physical exercise being the most prevalent. Among them, 25 (38%) knew about national or local SP awareness campaigns. Of these 25, 17 (68%) agreed that SP increases their job satisfaction and 21 (84%) agreed that it has a positive impact on their patients. Variations in SP awareness and referral practice were evident across and within countries. Conclusion: Despite disparities in awareness and referral practice as well as a diversity of activities and funding sources, most GPs who actively referred patients and were informed about SP campaigns agreed that SP positively impacts them and their patients.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
complex intervention, Europe, general practice, healthcare system, Social prescribing
in
European Journal of General Practice
volume
30
issue
1
article number
2351806
publisher
Mediselect
external identifiers
  • scopus:85193501512
  • pmid:38757217
ISSN
1381-4788
DOI
10.1080/13814788.2024.2351806
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8506d255-7732-49af-8b05-7d9a2d1e12a1
date added to LUP
2024-06-14 12:38:43
date last changed
2024-06-17 15:16:39
@article{8506d255-7732-49af-8b05-7d9a2d1e12a1,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Social prescribing (SP) is a patient pathway by which healthcare professionals connect patients with other sources of support, groups, or activities within their community. The awareness, practice, and perception of SP among GPs across Europe remains unclear. Objectives: To explore the awareness, practice, and perception of GPs on SP in the WONCA Europe region. Methods: An anonymous, cross-sectional online survey was distributed through a snowballing system, mailing lists, and at three international conferences in 2022/2023 to explore GPs’ awareness, practice, and perception of SP. The questionnaire in English contained 21 open and closed questions. Results: Of the 208 participating GPs from 33 countries, 116 (56%) previously heard of ‘social prescribing’ and 66 (32%) regularly referred patients to community activities through a formal system. These 66 GPs reported different funding sources and varied activities, with an average of four activities and physical exercise being the most prevalent. Among them, 25 (38%) knew about national or local SP awareness campaigns. Of these 25, 17 (68%) agreed that SP increases their job satisfaction and 21 (84%) agreed that it has a positive impact on their patients. Variations in SP awareness and referral practice were evident across and within countries. Conclusion: Despite disparities in awareness and referral practice as well as a diversity of activities and funding sources, most GPs who actively referred patients and were informed about SP campaigns agreed that SP positively impacts them and their patients.</p>}},
  author       = {{Evers, Sinah and Kenkre, Joyce and Kloppe, Thomas and Kurpas, Donata and Mendive, Juan M. and Petrazzuoli, Ferdinando and Vidal-Alaball, Josep}},
  issn         = {{1381-4788}},
  keywords     = {{complex intervention; Europe; general practice; healthcare system; Social prescribing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Mediselect}},
  series       = {{European Journal of General Practice}},
  title        = {{Survey of general practitioners’ awareness, practice and perception of social prescribing across Europe}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2024.2351806}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13814788.2024.2351806}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}