Article ID: 2020.002
Background: Socioeconomic and psychosocial status affect the health and treatment adherence of patients, especially if patients are impoverished and isolated. Yet, few standard procedures for addressing these social risks have been available in clinical settings. Social prescribing may supply the procedures necessary to address these risks; thus, it has attracted much attention recently. We attempt to define social prescribing through a literature review of currently available global evidence of the effectiveness of social prescribing activities, and also through a review of Japanese literature on similar activities. Further, this study aims to discuss the challenges and opportunities involved with the implementation of policy that addresses patients’ social risks at healthcare institutions in Japan.
Method: Searches were conducted via PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Japan Medical Abstracts Society database. We collected data on countries and regions where social prescribing is used, as well as its methods, definitions, and effects. Based on the review, we defined social prescribing comprehensively. In addition, we discussed the challenges and opportunities for implementing social prescribing activities in Japan.
Results: We included 34 studies and reports. Social prescribing was mostly reported from the UK. Social prescribing enables healthcare professionals to refer patients to a link worker, to co-design a non-clinical social prescription to improve their health and wellbeing. Empirical evidence suggests that social prescribing may be effective in reducing medical expenditure and unnecessary consultations. Based on our review, we defined social prescribing as: the activities of healthcare professionals who evaluate a patient's social needs and connect the patient to social resources, as well as co-design the patient's care with social resources to improve their health and wellbeing. Activities that matched with the definition were also reported in Japan.
Discussion: According to our review, in order to implement similar policies in Japan, it may be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of social prescribing activities, establish standardized diagnostic tools for patients' social risks, strengthen community governance of social prescribing activities, and consider how social prescribing is labeled.
