Social prescribing initiatives connecting general practice patients with community-based physical activity: A scoping review with expert interviews

Lene Gissel Rasmussen, Rasmus Østergaard Nielsen, Jemma Hawkins, Per Kallestrup, Julie Midtgaard, Knud Ryom*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftReviewForskningpeer review

Abstract

Aims:
The World Health Organization states that physical inactivity is one of the leading behavioural risk factors for disability and mortality in Europe. Social prescribing holds promise as a possible solution by connecting patients from general practice to community-based physical activity. Although research within social prescribing exists, the process of connecting general practice patients to community-based physical activity is not well investigated. This scoping review aimed to summarise and synthesise knowledge on social prescribing provided by health professionals in general practice towards community-based physical activity.
Methods:
A systematic search for literature in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, SportsDiscus and other sources was conducted to identify initiatives connecting general practice to community-based physical activity. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with subject-specific national experts. Finally, preliminary findings from the literature and the interviews were used in a co-creation process with experts to synthesise and finalise the results of a thematic analysis across data sources.
Results:
Based on 19 records, five expert interviews and subsequent co-creation, we identified three themes: (a) barriers and facilitators, (b) organisational perspectives and (c) value-based considerations.
Conclusions:
This review illuminates the complex nature of social prescribing programmes that connect general practice patients to community-based physical activity in Denmark. It also presents practical and fundamental considerations when applying social prescribing across different settings.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
BogserieScandinavian Journal of Public Health
ISSN1403-4948
DOI
StatusE-pub ahead of print - 2024

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article: The project was funded by the Research Unit for General Practice in Aarhus; the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University; the Danish Gymnastics and Sports Association (DGI); and Praksisforskningsfonden, Central Denmark Region. JH works for the DECIPHer research centre in Cardiff University which is funded by the Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales.

Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) 2024.

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