Responding to the Global Pandemic: Delivering Social Prescribing in an Ever-Shifting Landscape

IF 2 4区 医学 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Susan Potter, Sarah Hotham, Simon Bailey
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Social prescribing programmes across the United Kingdom were obliged to adapt and change as a result of COVID-19. However, as we emerge from the pandemic and only now begin to witness the extent to which service users and providers continue to be affected, is it realistic to expect social prescribing services to meet the increasing demands placed upon them? How might schemes manage to deliver effectively against a backlog of referrals, escalating mental health issues and growing health inequalities across the population? This paper explores the challenges faced by service providers and service users of social prescribing programmes during the global pandemic. Drawing from primary and secondary research, the discussion considers how the implementation of one social prescribing programme was impacted by COVID-19, how service providers responded, how service users were affected and, finally, what questions have been raised for the development and delivery of social prescribing in a postpandemic landscape.

Methods: Using the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, this discrete qualitative case study sits within the wider evaluation of Community Connect, London Borough of Bexley’s social prescribing programme. To investigate the impacts upon the programme through the key domains of implementation, maintenance and effectiveness, data were collected between April 2020 and November 2022. One reflexive discussion group and 26 semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of stakeholders, including social prescribers (n = 6), service users (n = 12), service provider organisations (n = 6), volunteer telephone befrienders (n = 6) and service commissioners (n = 2). Framework analysis was subsequently used to code and analyse the resulting qualitative data.

Results: Following a period of programme interruption, Community Connect adapted to remote delivery in support of both existing and new service users. Service users experiencing multimorbidity, combined with mental health problems, loneliness and isolation were adversely affected physically, emotionally and socially. Volunteers likewise reported feelings of isolation and uselessness, motivating them to support those in need. An interim ‘telephone befriending’ intervention engendered feelings of self-worth and reduced social isolation, having a positive impact on mental wellbeing. However, social prescribers experienced challenges in working from home, while attempting to build relationships with new referrals and/or providing meaningful support to digitally excluded individuals. Limited capacity meant many service users experienced intermittent contact with social prescribers, while few were offered consistent support in managing worsening health and/or mental health conditions. In addition, restricted access to voluntary service provider organisations adversely affected all areas of the programme. Those living in deprived circumstances and/or with complex health needs experienced negative impacts upon their long-term conditions, housing or finances. Many service users now report finding themselves in an escalating state of crisis, while Community Connect and all linked services attempt to address the continuing challenges resulting from COVID-19 and the current economic crisis.

Conclusions: Social prescribing offered valuable support to certain individuals during the first phase of the pandemic but remote contact had limited impact for service users with complex health and/or social needs. Continuing and increasing pressures placed upon social prescribing and voluntary services have resulted in negative outcomes. Findings highlight the vulnerability of social prescribing’s implementation and efficacy when voluntary service organisations and other linked services are disrupted by unforeseen global events.

应对全球流行病:在不断变化的环境中提供社会处方
背景:由于COVID-19,英国各地的社会处方方案不得不进行调整和改变。然而,随着我们摆脱大流行病,直到现在才开始看到服务使用者和提供者继续受到影响的程度,期望社会处方服务满足对他们提出的日益增加的需求是否现实?计划如何能够有效地解决转诊积压、心理健康问题升级和人口中日益严重的健康不平等问题?本文探讨了全球大流行期间社会处方规划的服务提供者和服务使用者所面临的挑战。根据初级和二级研究,讨论了COVID-19如何影响一项社会处方规划的实施,服务提供者如何应对,服务用户如何受到影响,最后,在大流行后的情况下,为制定和提供社会处方提出了哪些问题。方法:使用范围、有效性、采用、实施和维护(RE-AIM)框架,这个离散的定性案例研究位于伦敦贝克斯利自治市社会处方计划社区连接的更广泛评估中。为了通过实施、维护和有效性的关键领域调查对该计划的影响,在2020年4月至2022年11月期间收集了数据。一个反思性讨论小组和26个半结构化访谈对利益相关者进行了有目的的样本,包括社会处方者(n = 6),服务用户(n = 12),服务提供者组织(n = 6),志愿者电话助助者(n = 6)和服务专员(n = 2)。框架分析随后用于编码和分析所得到的定性数据。结果:经过一段时间的项目中断,社区连接适应了远程交付,以支持现有和新的服务用户。患有多种疾病的服务使用者,加上心理健康问题、孤独和孤立,在身体、情感和社会上都受到不利影响。志愿者也报告了被孤立和无用的感觉,这促使他们去支持那些有需要的人。临时的“电话交友”干预产生了自我价值感,减少了社会孤立,对心理健康产生了积极影响。然而,社交处方医生在尝试与新转诊者建立关系和/或为被数字排斥的个人提供有意义的支持时,在家工作遇到了挑战。能力有限意味着许多服务使用者与社会开处方者的接触断断续续,而在管理日益恶化的健康和/或精神健康状况方面,很少有人得到持续的支持。此外,限制进入志愿服务提供者组织对方案的所有领域产生不利影响。生活在贫困环境和(或)有复杂健康需求的人的长期状况、住房或财务状况受到了负面影响。许多服务用户报告称,他们发现自己处于不断升级的危机状态,而社区连接和所有相关服务都在努力应对2019冠状病毒病和当前经济危机带来的持续挑战。结论:在大流行的第一阶段,社会处方为某些个人提供了宝贵的支持,但远程接触对具有复杂健康和/或社会需求的服务使用者的影响有限。对社会处方和志愿服务施加的持续和日益增加的压力造成了消极后果。研究结果强调,当志愿服务组织和其他相关服务受到不可预见的全球事件的干扰时,社会处方的实施和有效性存在脆弱性。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
4.50
自引率
8.30%
发文量
423
期刊介绍: Health and Social Care in the community is an essential journal for anyone involved in nursing, social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, general practice, health psychology, health economy, primary health care and the promotion of health. It is an international peer-reviewed journal supporting interdisciplinary collaboration on policy and practice within health and social care in the community. The journal publishes: - Original research papers in all areas of health and social care - Topical health and social care review articles - Policy and practice evaluations - Book reviews - Special issues
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