Journal Article (Australian)
Published: 11 Nov 2024
Brief Summary:
Australian link worker social prescribing programs: An integrative review.
Baker JR, Bissett M, Freak-Poli R, Dingle GA, Zurynski Y, Astell-Burt T, et al. (2024) Australian link worker social prescribing programs: An integrative review. PLoS ONE 19(11): e0309783
This integrative review reports on the current state of evidence in Australia, with the potential to track changes and trends over time. Developing a core outcome set, incorporating stakeholder and consumer contributions for benchmarking aligned with the healthcare landscape is recommended. The findings may guide the refining of social prescribing initiatives and future research, ensuring methodological robustness and alignment with individual and community needs.
What is the aim?
An integrative review was conducted to identify and describe outcome domains and measures, and the methodological approaches and evaluation designs of link worker social prescribing programs in Australia.
Results/Outcomes:
Despite the variation in participant groups, the ‘person-level’ domains of global well-being and social well-being were consistently evaluated. While measurement tools varied significantly, the WHO Quality of Life Brief Assessment and short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale were most commonly applied. At the system level, health service utilisation was primarily evaluated. This integrative review reports on the current state of evidence in Australia, with the potential to track changes and trends over time. Developing a core outcome set, incorporating stakeholder and consumer contributions for benchmarking aligned with the healthcare landscape is recommended.