Healthcare providers' perceived importance and barriers to addressing social connection in medical settings

Despite the well-established significance of indicators of social connection for health and mortality, healthcare providers' (HCPs) perceptions of the role of social connection in physical health and the extent to which it is considered medically relevant remain unclear. This study examines the perceived importance and barriers to addressing social connection among HCPs in clinical settings. Surveys were completed by 681 HCPs across multiple locations and medical settings. HCPs ranked social connection low in importance among factors known to influence mortality and chronic illness. Furthermore, HCPs report significant barriers to addressing social connection; including lack of time, resources, training, and confidence. The findings have implications for developing educational programs, institutional policies, and structural changes to facilitate the integration of social connection into clinical practices, ultimately improving patient outcomes and overall public health.