Unpacking the early implementation of social prescribing in Swedish primary care
A theory-informed process evaluation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22944719 |
|---|---|
| Authors | F Jonsson (0000-0002-5902-3798, Umeå University, corresponding author), Emilia W E Viklund (0000-0002-5852-1381, Umeå University), Frida Degerstedt (0000-0002-1553-8634, Umeå University), Anna Sofia Lundgren (0000-0002-8758-5704, Umeå University), Ingemar Nilsson (0000-0002-8265-5769, Umeå University), INGEBORG NILSSON (Umeå University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-02 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Promotion International (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/heapro/daag041 |
| PMID | 41859853 |
| OpenAlex | W7138837730 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 37 |
Social prescribing has gained attention internationally as a health-promoting way to address patients’ nonmedical needs, yet research in the Nordic healthcare context remains limited. This theory-informed process evaluation set out to unpack the early implementation of a social prescribing model in Swedish primary care, developed to reduce loneliness and promote health among older adults. Guided by Normalization Process Theory (NPT) and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), this study assessed how and under what conditions the model was implemented across 10 primary care centres between May 2023 and December 2024. Data were triangulated from interviews with prescribers and patients, alongside prescribing and follow-up materials. Thematic analysis indicated that while the approach was perceived as relevant and timely, implementation was hindered by a selective use of the routine screening question and lack of person-centredness in the prescribing process, reflecting poor fidelity to core principles. Leadership engagement and managerial support that appeared symbolic rather than active further constrained implementation by limiting integration into organizational workflows, rendering the approach peripheral or optional to other clinical and statutory tasks. The model’s operationalization also lacked alignment with community resources and bridging structures, limiting implementation by failing to meet patients’ needs and expectations. While the Swedish social prescribing approach aligns with national policy discourse and prescribers’ values, its scale-up will require clearer guidance on components needing high-fidelity delivery, necessary organizational structures, accessible local resources, and mechanisms linking primary care with the wider community. These findings contribute to the international evidence base on social prescribing and inform refinements of the Swedish model.
Health care · Health services research · Integrated care · Limiting · Operationalization · Qualitative research · Statutory law · Thematic analysis · Art Therapy and Mental Health · Child Therapy and Development · Occupational Therapy Practice and Research · Social Work
The updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research based on user feedback
Implementation, context and complexity
Social prescribing
Establishing internationally accepted conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing through expert consensus
A realist evaluation of social prescribing
A new framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions
Process evaluation of complex interventions
Global developments in social prescribing
A comparison of social prescribing approaches across twelve high-income countries
“Top-Three” health reforms in 31 high-income countries in 2018 and 2019
Non-clinical community interventions
What approaches to social prescribing work, for whom, and in what circumstances? A realist review
What types of interventions generate inequalities? Evidence from systematic reviews
Social Prescribing
Understanding integrated care
Let’s Try Social Prescribing in Sweden (SPiS) – an Interventional Project Targeting Loneliness among Older Adults Using a Model for Integrated Care
Connecting communities
More than signposting
Transferability and Generalization in Qualitative Research
What does social prescribing look like in practice? A qualitative case study informed by practice theory
Implementing, Embedding, and Integrating Practices
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |