A framework to conceptualize social prescribing services from a prevention perspective.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Prevention Science
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Social prescribing models are expanding globally to address social determinants of health, support patients with chronic conditions, and reduce healthcare burdens.
• While implicitly aiming for health promotion and disease prevention, social prescribing is not yet systematically described as a preventive service in scientific literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a framework for explicitly conceptualizing social prescribing from a prevention perspective.
• To guide the development and evaluation of social prescribing services as preventive models.

Main Methods:

• Utilized concepts from prevention science, including classifications of prevention approaches.
• Compared social prescribing models across different countries to inform framework development.
• Identified examples of social prescribing models through systematic reviews and keyword searches.

Main Results:

• Developed a systematic framework for designing social prescribing models for prevention.
• The framework includes steps for defining target populations, intended outcomes, prevention approaches, implementation settings, and service selection.
• Examples provided include targeting young people for mild mental health issues using universal prevention strategies in primary care, prescribing outdoor physical activity.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework enhances the conceptualization, development, and evaluation of social prescribing services.
• It broadens the potential settings for social prescribing and addresses possible adverse consequences.
• This framework establishes social prescribing as a viable preventive service model, opening new research and implementation avenues.