Intervention components of link worker social prescribing programmes: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Primary Care
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Social prescribing, particularly link worker models, is increasingly used in UK primary care to manage long-term conditions and address non-medical needs.
• The heterogeneity and complexity of social prescribing interventions hinder consistent implementation and evaluation.
• A standardized framework is lacking for describing the components of social prescribing schemes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and categorize the core components of link worker social prescribing schemes operating within the United Kingdom.
• To develop a taxonomy of intervention components to aid in future research, policy development, and practical application.
• To provide a basis for standardized reporting of social prescribing interventions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted across six databases.
• Studies included adults with chronic physical health conditions or unmet social needs referred from primary care to a link worker.
• Intervention components were identified, organized, and reported using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) framework.

Main Results:

• The review identified 32 eligible articles representing 22 distinct social prescribing schemes.
• Significant variations were observed in geographical settings, target populations, and intervention components.
• Key variations included activities, procedures, organizational structures, staffing, and financing models.

Conclusions:

• Link worker social prescribing schemes in the UK exhibit considerable diversity in their design and delivery.
• The developed taxonomy offers a structured approach to understanding and reporting these interventions.
• Standardization through such a taxonomy can enhance the rigor of future social prescribing research, policy, and practice.