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Abstract
Introduction Social prescribing is an innovation being widely adopted within the UK National Health Service policy as a way of improving the management of people with long-term conditions, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). It generally involves linking patients in primary care with non-medical community-based interventions. Despite widespread national support, evidence for the effectiveness of social prescribing is both insufficient and contested. In this study, we will investigate whether social prescribing can contribute to T2D prevention and, if so, when, how and in what circumstances it might best be introduced.
Methods and analysis We will draw on realist evaluation to investigate the complex interpersonal, organisational, social and policy contexts in which social prescribing relevant to T2D prevention is implemented. We will set up a stakeholder group to advise us throughout the study, which will be conducted over three interconnected stages. In stage 1, we will undertake a realist review to synthesise the current evidence base for social prescribing. In stage 2, we will investigate how social prescribing relevant to people at high risk of T2D ‘works’ in a multiethnic, socioeconomically diverse community and any interactions with existing T2D prevention services using qualitative, quantitative and realist methods. In stage 3 and building on previous stages, we will synthesise a ‘transferable framework’ that will guide implementation and evaluation of social prescribing relevant to T2D prevention at scale.
Ethics and dissemination National Health Service ethics approval has been granted (reference 20/LO/0713). This project will potentially inform the adaptation of social prescribing services to better meet the needs of people at high risk of T2D in socioeconomically deprived areas. Findings may also be transferable to other long-term conditions. Dissemination will be undertaken as a continuous process, supported by the stakeholder group. Tailored outputs will target the following audiences: (1) service providers and commissioners; (2) people at high risk of T2D and community stakeholders; and (3) policy and strategic decision makers.
PROSPERO registration number CRD42020196259.
- primary care
- social medicine
- diabetes & endocrinology
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This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.
Supplementary Data
This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.
Supplementary Data
This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.
Footnotes
Twitter @trishgreenhalgh, @Sarah_Finer
Correction notice The corresponding author name has been corrected to Sara Calderón-Larrañaga.
Contributors SCL and SF conceptualised the study with input from MC and TG. SCL wrote the first draft of this manuscript with significant input from SF, MC and TG. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding This work was supported by the Economic Social Research Council, London Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (grant number ES/P000703/1) and Currier’s Millennium Healthcare Bursary.
Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the London Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership, Currier’s Millennium Healthcare Bursary, National Health Service or the Department of Health.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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