Setting research priorities for the WONCA Europe Social Prescribing and Community Orientation (SPCO) Special Interest Group
Katerina JAVORSKA
The World Health Organisation defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Historically the focus of healthcare delivery has been on diagnosing and treating disease, however there is a growing interest in Social Prescribing. Social Prescribing is a means to refer people with social, emotional or practical needs to sources of non-clinical support in community settings to improve mental health and physical wellbeing; using a holistic and personalised approach, it focuses both the wider determinants of health and individual needs to give people greater control of their own health and wellbeing. Members of the WONCA SIG SPCO have been successful on gaining European research funding to understand and develop good practice for social prescribing.The aim of the workshop is to develop a framework for research priorities to take forward in the coming years.Presentations will be given on the role of the SPCO within WONCA Europe and its members and on the current successful funded research projects. Using a modified nominal group technique to discuss and decide on potential research priorities for the group to be taken forward.The workshop is to gain insight into the potential research needed to develop social prescribing within European countries and communities from a practitioners and community perspective.In conclusion, the workshop summarizes key research priorities in social prescribing, highlighting the need for inclusive and collaborative research to strengthen evidence, support effective practice and promote sustainable implementation.
