Effects of social prescribing on loneliness

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SBU Enquiry Service

Consists of structured literature searches to highlight studies that can address questions received by the SBU Enquiry Service from Swedish healthcare or social service providers. We assess the risk of bias in systematic reviews and when needed also quality and transferability of results in health economic studies. Relevant references are compiled by an SBU staff member, in consultation with an external expert when needed.

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Published: Report no: ut202601 Registration no: SBU 2026/82

Question

What effect does social prescribing have on people under the age of 60 in terms of social outcomes such as loneliness, social isolation and social participation?

PICO

  • Population: People under 60 years of age, with or without experienced loneliness.
  • Intervention: Social prescribing according to WHO's definition.
  • Comparison: Other active intervention, usual treatment, waiting list or no treatment.
  • Outcome: Loneliness, social isolation, social contacts, social capital, social participation, social support, sense of belonging, social inclusion, social interaction, social deprivation, social trust, interpersonal relationships or friendship.

Method

A systematic literature search was performed using the following databases: Medline (Ovid), Scopus, PsycInfo, Academic Search Premiere, CINAHL, ERIC, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, SocIndex, och Social Service Abstract / Sociological Abstracts.

Two authors independently assessed the abstracts of all identified studies.

Risk of bias in relevant systematic reviews was assessed using an assessment tool based on AMSTAR.

Identified literature

No relevant systematic review with low to moderate risk of bias was identified. In five relevant systematic reviews, the risk of bias was considered to be high, therefore the results and conclusions are not reported [1-5]. By presenting study information from each overview we depict that social prescribing consists of different interventions given to varied populations (Table 1).

Table 1 Systematic reviews with high risk of bias.
Included studies Population, Intervention, Control Outcome and Results
Dubbeldeman et al, 2024 [1]
Intervention Characteristics and Mechanisms and Their Relationship with the Influence of Social Prescribing: A Systematic Review.
Relevant studies (n=31):
1 controlled before-after
6 uncontrolled before-after
1 qualitative: focus groups
4 qualitative: interviews
19 mixed methods 

Setting:
Australia: 1 study
Canada: 1 study
Netherlands: 1 study
Great Britain: 28 studies		 Relevant populations:
Mental illness
Depressive symptoms
Psychosocial problems
Social isolation
Frequent attenders
Diabetes
Carers
Stress (non-medical issues)
Long term physical condition
Long term mental condition
Depression
Anxiety
Poor mental wellbeing (due to social circumstance)
Loneliness
Lifestyle issues
Family and relationship problems
Chronic pain
Chronic conditions (exacerbated by loneliness)
Stress from illness or pain
Low general health and fitness
Social difficulties
Low mood
Recent major life change/Difficult life changes or challenges
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Risk for cardiovascular disease
Learning disabilities
Motor neuron disease and socially isolated
Low self-esteem
Sensory impairment and socially isolated

Intervention type:
Arts on prescription
Broad (holistic, tailored)
Nature-based
Support groups
Information 

Control:
Not reported for the controlled study		 Relevant outcomes:
UCLA Loneliness Scale
Campaign to End Loneliness Measurement
De Jong Gierveld Loneliness
Friendship scale
Social Inclusion Scale
Self-developed items
Lavelle-Sachs et al, 2024 [2]
Connecting through nature: A systematic review of the effectiveness of nature-based social prescribing practices to combat loneliness
Relevant studies (n=2):
1 cross-sectional
1 before-after 

Setting:
Great Britain: 2 studies		 Relevant population:
Mental illness
Mental health problems
Learning disability
Autism

Intervention type:
Nature-based		 Relevant outcomes:
Social interaction (Likert scale)
6-item De Jong Gierveld scale for emotional loneliness and social loneliness
Napierala et al, 2022 [3]
Social Prescribing: Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Psychosocial Community Referral Interventions in Primary Care
Relevant studies (n=26):
19 uncontrolled before-after, mixed-methods
5 uncontrolled before-after
1 non-randomized controlled study, mixed methods
1 uncontrolled before-after, non-randomized controlled design for process of care measure, mixed methods 

Setting:
Australia: 2 studies
Great Britain: 24 studies		 Relevant population:
Long term conditions
Social isolation
Serious mental illness
Stress
Anxiety
Depression
Chronic pain
Chronic illness
Low self-esteem
Low overall wellbeing and health
Diabetes
Mental health problems
Carers
Bereavement
Social and practical support needs
Housing issues
Social problems
Major life change
Low confidence
Lone parents
Low income
Frequent attenders
Psychosocial problems
Relationship problems
Financial difficulties
Recent hospital admission
Geriatric age group with chronic conditions
Polypharmacy
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Multi-sensory impairment
Inability to return to work after work-related injury 

Intervention type:
Broad (holistic, tailored)
Nature-based
Self-care
Arts on prescription
Information
Volunteering 

Control:
Randomly selected from neighbouring areas not involved in the scheme, 23–85 years old, suffering from depression, anxiety or diabetes
Not reported for uncontrolled before-after, non-randomized controlled design for process of care measure, mixed methods study		 Relevant outcomes:
UCLA-3 Loneliness scale
Campaign to End Loneliness Tool
De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale
Work and social adjustment scale (WSAS)
Connectedness and relationship
Social participation
Social capital (social networks and support)
Frequency of contact
Scores in relation to whether program users have enough social contact or feel socially isolate
Social isolation and loneliness scale
Pescheny et al, 2020 [4]
The impact of social prescribing services on service users: a systematic review of the evidence
Relevant studies (n=13):
10 mixed methods
1 controlled before-after
1 RCT1 qualitative

Setting:
Great Britain: 12 studies
Not reported: 1 study		 Relevant population:
Older patients with long-term conditions
Older patients with single or multi-sensory
Social isolation
Diabetes
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Asthma
Coronary heart disease
Heart failure
Epilepsy
Osteoporosis
Anxiety
Depression
Falls
Polypharmacy
Frequent attender
Psychosocial needs
Practical support needs
Complex long-term conditions
Carers
Low mood 

Intervention type:
Broad (holistic, tailored)
Arts on prescription
Volunteering
Support group
Information 

Control:
Not reported for the controlled studies		 Relevant outcomes:
Indicators (companionship, feeling isolated, left out, in tune with others around) to measure social isolation and loneliness
Positive and active engagement in life
Friendship Scale
Duke-UNC functional social support questionnaire
Reduced isolation
Increased social activity
Community links
Improvement in wellbeing
Spanos et al, 2025 [5]
Integrating Non-Clinical Supports into Care: A Systematic Review of Social Prescribing Referral Pathways for Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Psychosocial Improvement
Relevant studies (n=15):
5 mixed methods, longitudinal
3 quantitative, longitudinal
3 qualitative, descriptive
1 mixed methods, sequential exploratory
1 qualitative, realist
1 qualitative, narrative
1 qualitative, phenomenology 

Setting:
Australia:2 studies
Canada: 1 study
Great Britain: 12 studies		 Relevant population:
Not reported 

Intervention type:
Broad (holistic, tailored)
Arts on prescription
Nature-based 

Control:
Not reported for quantitative studies		 Relevant outcomes:
UCLA 8-item Loneliness Scale (ULS-8)
Group membership
Community belonging
UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale (ULS-3)

References

  1. Dubbeldeman EM, Kiefte-de Jong JC, Ardesch FH, Boelens M, van der Velde LA, van der Steen SGL, et al. Intervention Characteristics and Mechanisms and Their Relationship with the Influence of Social Prescribing: A Systematic Review. Health Soc Care Community. 2024;2024(1). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5597259
  2. Lavelle Sachs A, Kolster A, Wrigley J, Papon V, Opacin N, Hill N, et al. Connecting through nature: A systematic review of the effectiveness of nature-based social prescribing practices to combat loneliness. Landsc Urban Plan. 2024;248. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105071
  3. Napierala H, Kruger K, Kuschick D, Heintze C, Herrmann WJ, Holzinger F. Social Prescribing: Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Psychosocial Community Referral Interventions in Primary Care. Int J Integr Care. 2022;22(3):11. Available from: https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.6472
  4. Pescheny JV, Randhawa G, Pappas Y. The impact of social prescribing services on service users: a systematic review of the evidence. Eur J Public Health. 2020;30(4):664-73. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckz078
  5. Spanos S, Wijekulasuriya S, Ellis LA, Saba M, Schroeder T, Officer C, et al. Integrating Non-Clinical Supports into Care: A Systematic Review of Social Prescribing Referral Pathways for Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Psychosocial Improvement. Int J Integr Care. 2025;25(3):21. Available from: https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.9127

 

Search strategies

Medline via OvidSP 11 September 2025

Title: Social prescription
Search terms Items found
/ = Term from the MeSH controlled vocabulary; .sh = Term from the MeSH controlled vocabulary; exp = Term from MeSH including terms found below this term in the MeSH hierarchy; .ti,ab = Title or abstract; .tw = Title or abstract; .kf = Keywords; .kw = Keywords, exact; .bt = Book title. NLM Bookshelf; .pt = Publication type; .ja = Journal abbreviation; .af = All fields; adjn = Adjacent. Proximity operator retrieving adjacent words, adj3 retrieves records with search terms within two terms from each other; * or $ = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase

a Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy for identifying randomized trials in MEDLINE: sensitivity- and precision-maximizing version (2008 revision); Ovid format. The Cochrane Collaboration; 2008. Available from: https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current/chapter-04-technical-supplement-searching-and-selecting-studies#section-3-6-1.  with modifications: the following terms are added: clinical trial, phase iii.pt. ; randomised.ab. ; ("Phase 3" or "phase3" or "phase III" or P3 or "PIII").ti,ab,kw.
Intervention: Social prescription
1. Social Prescribing/ 33
2. (community prescri* or community referral* or link* scheme* or link worker* or social prescri* or social referral*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 1250
3. ((community) adj2 (navigation or navigator* or connector*)).ti,bt,kf,ab. 246
4. (Community adj2 activit*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 4356
5. (book* on referral* or book* on prescription* or prescribing book*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 6
6. ((nature or gardening) adj3 (prescription* or referral*)).ti,bt,kf,ab. 189
7. ((prescrib*) adj3 (nature or gardening)).ti,bt,kf,ab. 107
8. (eco therap* or ecotherap*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 24
9. (green gym* or (green adj3 prescription*)).ti,bt,kf,ab. 88
10. (time bank*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 29
11. ((signpost* or information*) adj3 (prescription* or referral*)).ti,bt,kf,ab. 3055
12. (art* for health or art* on referral* or art* on prescription* or prescribing art*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 2130
13. (danc* for health or danc* on referral* or danc* on prescription* or prescribing danc*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 92
14. (education* on referral* or education* on prescription* or prescribing education*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 131
15. (exercis* on referral* or exercis* on prescription* or prescribing exercis*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 520
16. (museum* for health or museum* on referral* or museum* on prescription* or prescribing museum*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 49
17. (culture for health or culture on referral* or culture on prescription* or prescribing culture).ti,bt,kf,ab. 1257
18. (heritage for health or heritage on referral* or heritage on prescription* or prescribing heritage).ti,bt,kf,ab. 30
19. (drama for health or drama on referral* or drama on prescription* or prescribing drama).ti,bt,kf,ab. 11
20. (music for health or music on referral* or music on prescription* or prescribing music).ti,bt,kf,ab. 83
21. (singing for health or singing on referral or singing on prescription or prescribing singing).ti,bt,kf,ab. 23
22. (craft* for health or craft* on referral or craft* on prescription or prescribing craft*).ti,bt,kf,ab. 1
23. OR 1-22/ 13 545
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trialsa
24. ((Systematic Review/ or Meta-Analysis/ or Cochrane Database Syst Rev.ja. or (((systematic or realist or integrative or qualitative or mixed method* or evidence or critical or scoping or mapping or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic) adj4 (review or synthe*)) or "meta analys*" or metaanalys* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*).ti,bt,ab,kf.) not (editorial/ or letter/ or case reports/)) 748 387
Final result
25. 23 AND 24 894

Scopus via scopus.com 11 September 2025

Title: Social prescription
Search terms Items found
TITLE-ABS-KEY = Title, abstract or keywords (including indexed keywords and author keywords); ALL = All fields; W/n = Within. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; PRE/n = Precedes by. Proximity operator, the first term in the search must precede the second by n words; LIMIT-TO (X) = Includes only results of specified type, e.g., publication type or time range; DOCTYPE = Publication type; “re” = review; “le” = letter; “ed” = editorial; “ch” = book chapter; “cp” = conference proceedings; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase  
Intervention: Social prescription
1. TITLE-ABS-KEY ("community prescri*" OR "community referral*" OR "link* scheme*" OR "link worker*" OR "social prescri*" OR "social referral*") 2095
2. TITLE-ABS-KEY (Community W/2 activit*) 20 791
3. TITLE-ABS-KEY ((Community) W/2 (navigation OR navigator OR connector)) 679
4. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“book* on referral*” OR ”book* on prescription*” OR ”prescribing book*”) 15
5. TITLE-ABS-KEY ((nature OR gardening) W/3 (prescription* OR referral*)) 451
6. TITLE-ABS-KEY ((prescrib*) W/3 (nature OR gardening)) 337
7. TITLE-ABS-KEY (”eco therap*” OR ecotherap*) 184
8. TITLE-ABS-KEY (”green gym*” OR (green W/3 prescription*)) 182
9. TITLE-ABS-KEY ("time bank*") 389
10. TITLE-ABS-KEY ((signpost* OR information) W/3 ( prescription* OR referrall*)) 2952
11. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“art* for health” OR “art* on referral” OR “art* on prescription” OR “prescribing art*”) 160
12. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“danc* for health” OR “danc* on referral*” OR “danc* on prescription*” OR “prescribing danc*”) 38
13. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“educat* on referral*” OR “educat* on prescription*” OR “prescribing educat*”) 148
14. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“exercis* on referral*” OR “exercis* on prescription*” OR “prescribing exercis*”) 640
15. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“museum* for health” OR “museum* on referral” OR “museum* on prescription” OR “prescribing museum*”) 6
16. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“culture for health” OR “culture on referral*” OR “culture on prescription*” OR “prescribing culture”) 92
17. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“heritage for health” OR “heritage on referral” OR “heritage on prescription” OR “prescribing heritage”) 0
18. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“drama for health” OR “drama on referral” OR “drama on prescription” OR “prescribing drama”) 2
19. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“music for health” OR “music on referral” OR “music on prescription” OR “prescribing music”) 34
20. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“singing for health” OR “singing on referral” OR “singing on prescription” OR “prescribing singing”) 9
21. TITLE-ABS-KEY (“craft* for health” OR “craft* on referral” OR “craft* on prescription” OR “prescribing craft*”) 3
22. OR 1-21/ 28 978
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trials
23. TITLE-ABS ((( systematic OR realist OR integrative OR qualitative OR evidence OR critical OR "mixed method*" or evidence or critical or scoping or mapping or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic) W/3 (review OR synthes*)) OR ("meta analys*" OR metaanalys* OR meta synthe* OR metasynthe* OR "meta narrative" OR meta aggreg* OR meta ethnograph*)) AND (EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE,"le") OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE,"ed") OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE,"ch") OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE,"cp"))  783 763
Final result
24. 22 AND 23 859

APA PsycInfo via EBSCO 15 September 2025

Title: Social prescription
Search terms Items found
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Keyword, exact or part (including all other fields for indexed and author keywords); MH = Exact subject heading, indexed keywords; TX = All text; PT = Publication type; Nn = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase

b Glanville J, Dooley G, Wisniewski S, Foxlee R, Noel-Storr A. Development of a search filter to identify reports of controlled clinical trials within CINAHL Plus. Health Info Libr J. 2019;36(1):73-90. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12251.
Intervention: Social prescription
1. DE "Social Prescribing" 111
2. TI (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 4036
3. AB (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 16 558
4. SU (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 848
5. OR 1-5/ 19 037
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trialsb
6. TI (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or AB (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or  SU (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*)    990 660
Final result
7. 5 AND 6 177

Academic Search Premiere via EBSCO 15 September 2025

Title: Social prescription
Search terms Items found
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Keyword, exact or part (including all other fields for indexed and author keywords); MH = Exact subject heading, indexed keywords; TX = All text; PT = Publication type; Nn = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase

c Glanville J, Dooley G, Wisniewski S, Foxlee R, Noel-Storr A. Development of a search filter to identify reports of controlled clinical trials within CINAHL Plus. Health Info Libr J. 2019;36(1):73-90. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12251.
Intervention: Social prescription
1. DE "Social Prescribing" 188
2. TI (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 4036
3. AB (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 16 558
4. SU (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 848
5. OR 1-5/ 19 037
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trialsc
6. TI (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or AB (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or  SU (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*)    990 660
Final result
7. 5 AND 6 376

CINAHL SocINDEX via EBSCO 15 September 2025

Title: Social prescription
Search terms Items found
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Keyword, exact or part (including all other fields for indexed and author keywords); MH = Exact subject heading, indexed keywords; TX = All text; PT = Publication type; Nn = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase

d Glanville J, Dooley G, Wisniewski S, Foxlee R, Noel-Storr A. Development of a search filter to identify reports of controlled clinical trials within CINAHL Plus. Health Info Libr J. 2019;36(1):73-90. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12251.
Intervention: Social prescription
1. TI (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 1517
2. AB (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 3341
3. SU (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 20
4. OR 1-3/ 4354
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trialsd
5. TI (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or AB (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or  SU (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*)    329 954
Final result
6. 4 AND 5 340

ERIC via EBSCO 15 September 2025

Title: Social prescription
Search terms Items found
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Keyword, exact or part (including all other fields for indexed and author keywords); MH = Exact subject heading, indexed keywords; TX = All text; PT = Publication type; Nn = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase

e Glanville J, Dooley G, Wisniewski S, Foxlee R, Noel-Storr A. Development of a search filter to identify reports of controlled clinical trials within CINAHL Plus. Health Info Libr J. 2019;36(1):73-90. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12251.
Intervention: Social prescription
1. TI (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 91
2. AB (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 16 558
3. SU (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 848
4. OR 1-5/ 19 037
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trialse
5. TI (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or AB (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or  SU (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*)    990 660
Final result
6. 4 AND 5 6

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection via EBSCO 15 September 2025

Title: Social prescription
Search terms Items found
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Keyword, exact or part (including all other fields for indexed and author keywords); MH = Exact subject heading, indexed keywords; TX = All text; PT = Publication type; Nn = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase

f Glanville J, Dooley G, Wisniewski S, Foxlee R, Noel-Storr A. Development of a search filter to identify reports of controlled clinical trials within CINAHL Plus. Health Info Libr J. 2019;36(1):73-90. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12251.
Intervention: Social prescription
1. TI (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 4036
2. AB (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 16 558
3. SU (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 848
4. OR 1-5/ 19 037
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trialsf
5. TI (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or AB (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or  SU (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*)    990 660
Final result
6. 5 AND 6 39

SocINDEX via EBSCO 15 September 2025

Title: Social prescription
Search terms Items found
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Keyword, exact or part (including all other fields for indexed and author keywords); MH = Exact subject heading, indexed keywords; TX = All text; PT = Publication type; Nn = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase

g Glanville J, Dooley G, Wisniewski S, Foxlee R, Noel-Storr A. Development of a search filter to identify reports of controlled clinical trials within CINAHL Plus. Health Info Libr J. 2019;36(1):73-90. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12251.
Intervention: Social prescription
1. DE "Social Prescribing" 20
2. TI (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 225
3. AB (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 1042
4. SU (("community prescri*" or "community referral*" or "link* scheme*" or "link worker*" or "social prescri*" or "social referral*") or ((Community) W2 (navigation or navigator or connector )) or (“book* on referral*” or ”book* on prescription*” or ”prescribing book*”) or ((nature OR gardening) W3 (prescription* or referral*)) or ((prescrib*) W3 (nature or gardening)) or (”eco therap*” or ecotherap*) or (”green gym*” or (green W3 prescription*)) or ("time bank*") or ((signpost* or information) W3 (prescription* or referrall*)) or (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” or “art* on prescription*” or “prescribing art*”) or (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) or (“educat* on referral*” or “educat* on prescription*” or “prescribing educat*”) or (“exercis* on referral*” or “exercis* on prescription*” or “prescribing exercis*”) or (“museum* for health” or “museum* on referral*” or “museum* on prescription*” or “prescribing museum*”) or (“culture for health” or “culture on referral*” or “culture on prescription*” or “prescribing culture”) or (“heritage for health” or “heritage on referral*” or “heritage on prescription*” or “prescribing heritage”) or (“drama for health” or “drama on referral*” or “drama on prescription*” or “prescribing drama”) or (“music for health” or “music on referral*” or “music on prescription*” or “prescribing music”) or (“singing for health” or “singing on referral*” or “singing on prescription*” or “prescribing singing”) or (“craft* for health” or “craft* on referral*” or “craft* on prescription*” or “prescribing craft*”)) 42
5. OR 1-5/ 1167
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trialsg
6. TI (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or AB (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) or  SU (((systematic or mixed method* or qualitative or realist or integrative or evidence or critical or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic or scoping or mapping) W4 review) or meta analy* or metaanaly* or meta synthe* or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*)    25 962
Final result
7. 5 AND 6 29

Social Service Abstract / Sociological Abstracts via Proquest 15 September 2025

Title: Social prescription
Search terms Items found
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Subjects; N/n = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase
Intervention: Social prescription
1. TI (( "community prescri*" OR "community referral*" OR "link* scheme*" OR "link worker*" OR "social prescri*" OR "social referral*") OR ( (Community) P/2 ( navigation OR navigator OR connector ) ) OR (“book* on referral*” OR ”book* on prescription*” OR ”prescribing book*”) OR ((nature OR gardening) P/3 (prescription* OR referral*)) OR ((prescrib*) P/3 (nature OR gardening)) OR (”eco therap*” OR ecotherap*) OR (”green gym*” OR (green W3 prescription*)) OR ("time bank*") OR ((signpost* OR information) P/3 (prescription* OR referrall*)) OR (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” OR “art* on prescription*” OR “prescribing art*”) OR (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) OR (“educat* on referral*” OR “educat* on prescription*” OR “prescribing educat*”) OR (“exercis* on referral*” OR “exercis* on prescription*” OR “prescribing exercis*”) OR (“museum* for health” OR “museum* on referral*” OR “museum* on prescription*” OR “prescribing museum*”) OR (“culture for health” OR “culture on referral*” OR “culture on prescription*” OR “prescribing culture”) OR (“heritage for health” OR “heritage on referral*” OR “heritage on prescription*” OR “prescribing heritage”) OR (“drama for health” OR “drama on referral*” OR “drama on prescription*” OR “prescribing drama”) OR (“music for health” OR “music on referral*” OR “music on prescription*” OR “prescribing music”) OR (“singing for health” OR “singing on referral*” OR “singing on prescription*” OR “prescribing singing”) OR (“craft* for health” OR “craft* on referral*” OR “craft* on prescription*” OR “prescribing craft*”)) 166
2. AB (( "community prescri*" OR "community referral*" OR "link* scheme*" OR "link worker*" OR "social prescri*" OR "social referral*") OR ( (Community) P/2 ( navigation OR navigator OR connector ) ) OR (“book* on referral*” OR ”book* on prescription*” OR ”prescribing book*”) OR ((nature OR gardening) P/3 (prescription* OR referral*)) OR ((prescrib*) P/3 (nature OR gardening)) OR (”eco therap*” OR ecotherap*) OR (”green gym*” OR (green W3 prescription*)) OR ("time bank*") OR ((signpost* OR information) P/3 (prescription* OR referrall*)) OR (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” OR “art* on prescription*” OR “prescribing art*”) OR (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) OR (“educat* on referral*” OR “educat* on prescription*” OR “prescribing educat*”) OR (“exercis* on referral*” OR “exercis* on prescription*” OR “prescribing exercis*”) OR (“museum* for health” OR “museum* on referral*” OR “museum* on prescription*” OR “prescribing museum*”) OR (“culture for health” OR “culture on referral*” OR “culture on prescription*” OR “prescribing culture”) OR (“heritage for health” OR “heritage on referral*” OR “heritage on prescription*” OR “prescribing heritage”) OR (“drama for health” OR “drama on referral*” OR “drama on prescription*” OR “prescribing drama”) OR (“music for health” OR “music on referral*” OR “music on prescription*” OR “prescribing music”) OR (“singing for health” OR “singing on referral*” OR “singing on prescription*” OR “prescribing singing”) OR (“craft* for health” OR “craft* on referral*” OR “craft* on prescription*” OR “prescribing craft*”)) 371
3. SU (( "community prescri*" OR "community referral*" OR "link* scheme*" OR "link worker*" OR "social prescri*" OR "social referral*") OR ( (Community) P/2 ( navigation OR navigator OR connector ) ) OR (“book* on referral*” OR ”book* on prescription*” OR ”prescribing book*”) OR ((nature OR gardening) P/3 (prescription* OR referral*)) OR ((prescrib*) P/3 (nature OR gardening)) OR (”eco therap*” OR ecotherap*) OR (”green gym*” OR (green W3 prescription*)) OR ("time bank*") OR ((signpost* OR information) P/3 (prescription* OR referrall*)) OR (“art* for health” or “art* on referral*” OR “art* on prescription*” OR “prescribing art*”) OR (“danc* for health” or “danc* on referral*” or “danc* on prescription*” or “prescribing danc*”) OR (“educat* on referral*” OR “educat* on prescription*” OR “prescribing educat*”) OR (“exercis* on referral*” OR “exercis* on prescription*” OR “prescribing exercis*”) OR (“museum* for health” OR “museum* on referral*” OR “museum* on prescription*” OR “prescribing museum*”) OR (“culture for health” OR “culture on referral*” OR “culture on prescription*” OR “prescribing culture”) OR (“heritage for health” OR “heritage on referral*” OR “heritage on prescription*” OR “prescribing heritage”) OR (“drama for health” OR “drama on referral*” OR “drama on prescription*” OR “prescribing drama”) OR (“music for health” OR “music on referral*” OR “music on prescription*” OR “prescribing music”) OR (“singing for health” OR “singing on referral*” OR “singing on prescription*” OR “prescribing singing”) OR (“craft* for health” OR “craft* on referral*” OR “craft* on prescription*” OR “prescribing craft*”)) 58
4. OR 1-3/ 397
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trials
5. SU (((systematic or "mixed method*" or qualitative or realist or scoping or mapping or evidence or integrative or critical  or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic) N/4 review) or "meta analy*" or metaanaly* or "meta synthe*" or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) OR TI (((systematic or "mixed method*" or qualitative or realist or scoping or mapping or evidence or integrative or critical  or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic) N/4 review) or "meta analy*" or metaanaly* or "meta synthe*" or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) OR AB (((systematic or "mixed method*" or qualitative or realist or scoping or mapping or evidence or integrative or critical  or umbrella or rapid or narrative or thematic) N/4 review) or "meta analy*" or metaanaly* or "meta synthe*" or metasynthe* or meta narrative or meta aggreg* or meta ethnograph*) 28 100
Final result
17. 4 AND 5 42
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