Building common understanding: seeking consensus and defining social prescribing across contexts - a collective...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Sciences
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Social prescribing is a growing global phenomenon.
• There is a need for a standardized definition to guide practice and research.
• International consensus is crucial for widespread adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish global agreement on the definition of social prescribing.
• To reflect on the utility of the Delphi study outputs.
• To outline future directions for social prescribing.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi study involving 48 social prescribing experts.
• Participants were drawn from 26 countries worldwide.
• A consensus-building methodology was employed.

Main Results:

• Global agreement was reached on the definition of social prescribing.
• The study identified key components and principles of social prescribing.
• Expert consensus provides a foundation for consistent implementation.

Conclusions:

• The established definition offers a clear framework for social prescribing.
• Further research should explore the practical application and impact of this definition.
• International collaboration is essential for advancing social prescribing globally.