Looking Back and Moving Forward

Exploring Community Connectors’ Experience With Implementing Social Prescribing

Bibliographic Data

ID6427043
AuthorsElham Esfandiari (0000-0001-7623-1639), Anna M Chudyk (0000-0001-8476-2093), Kathleen Mulligan (0000-0001-7249-2823), William C Miller (0000-0003-3060-0210), W Ben Mortenson (0000-0002-0183-6163), Christie Newton (0000-0002-7181-4728), Kathy L Rush (0000-0002-0879-7187), Robert J Petrella (0000-0002-4224-1916), Maureen C Ashe (0000-0002-6820-4435)
EditorsQing-Wei Chen
Year2025
Volume2025
Issue1
Publication date2025-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth & Social Care in the Community (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0966-0410 • E-ISSN: 1365-2524
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1155/hsc/4355122
OpenAlexW4406346291
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited77

Social prescribing is a health and social model of care which is emerging globally. It is a multifaceted intervention shaped by various contextual factors that can affect its implementation. Our aim was to describe community connectors’ (link workers or navigators) perceptions and experiences delivering social prescribing programs, with a particular interest in identifying implementation factors or themes. We conducted 11 online semi‐structured interviews with community connectors who delivered social prescribing in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We used directed content analysis, and two authors explored interviews using an implementation perspective. We sorted findings using a deductive approach based on previously published guidance to consider program acceptability, adoption, reach, dose, fidelity, feasibility, and sustainability, and community connectors’ self‐efficacy in delivering the program. We identified factors or themes which could impact on social prescribing implementation, specifically: variability in people’s unmet social needs, identification of community resources, team relationships, and communication. Participants also shared their experiences and perspectives on community connectors’ training, support, and their roles and scope within the continuum of care. At the client level, participants noted some challenges for people to access services because of low income and/or digital literacy. They further provided suggestions for shaping the future of social prescribing. Overall, participants provided valuable insights into social prescribing implementation opportunities and challenges which contribute to understanding community connectors’ role within the wider scope of this quickly emerging health and social model of care

Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Art Therapy and Mental Health · Community Health and Development · Health Policy Implementation Science · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access