Inequalities in the need and provision of social prescribing for people with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs): a mixed methods study
Supervisors:
Dr Suzanne Grant, Population Health & Genomics, University of Dundee
Dr Kimberly R. More, School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews
Dr Andrea Rodriguez, School of Dentistry, University of Dundee
Professor David Blane, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow
Summary:
People with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) often experience challenges that extend beyond clinical management (e.g. social isolation, financial pressures). Social prescribing aims to address these wider social determinants of health by linking people to community-based non-medical support to meet their practical, social and emotional needs. However, health inequalities can shape both the prevalence of MLTCs and the need and provision of social prescribing interventions.
This mixed methods project aims to understand how inequalities influence the need and provision of social prescribing for people with MLTCs in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) to co-design improvements. Objectives include:
Synthesising existing evidence on inequalities in social prescribing need and provision for people with MLTCs.
Quantifying the provision of existing social prescribing interventions and unmet need for people with MLTCs from high SED areas across Scotland and their acceptability and perceived benefits/costs for people with MLTCs.
Exploring patients’ and health/social care and third sector staff’s experiences of accessing, using and delivering social prescribing interventions in the context of MLTCs in high SED areas.
Co-designing solutions to improve practice.
Methods include: literature review; quantitative survey methods; ethnographic observation and interviews; and participatory co-design workshops with policymakers, practitioners and patients.