Scientific Publications

BMJ Open, 16: e112887 (online ahead of print)

This international study explores how social prescribing (SP) - a growing approach that connects people to non-medical support such as community, cultural, and social services - can better address challenges like loneliness, housing, and financial stress. Focusing on five European countries (Austria, England, Germany, Poland, and Portugal), the research examines the factors that enable or hinder successful implementation, with particular attention to LGBTIQ+ individuals, refugees and first-generation immigrants, and older adults living alone. Through 100 in-depth interviews with people involved in receiving, delivering, managing, and funding social prescribing, the project aims to generate practical insights to improve policy, practice, and access across diverse healthcare systems, with findings shared through academic publications, conferences, policy briefs, and public-facing materials.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin, 59. Kongress für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin (Hannover, 01-03 October 2025). German Medical Science GMS Publishing House (Düsseldorf)

Interventionen in der hausärztlichen Versorgung sind zentral für die Erreichung des Triple Aims, stehen jedoch vor besonderen methodischen Herausforderungen, da bestehende RCT-Leitlinien primär auf pharmazeutische Studien und tertiäre Versorgung zugeschnitten sind. Um qualitativ hochwertige, pragmatische Studien in der Primärversorgung zu ermöglichen und gleichzeitig die Belastung einzelner Hausärzt:innen zu reduzieren, wurde ein dezentrales Hub-and-Spoke-Modell entwickelt. Dieses dreistufige Modell verlagert die Hauptverantwortung für Studienleitung und -management in akademische Zentren, während Hausarztpraxen als Studienzentren eingebunden werden. Dadurch werden Durchführung, Qualitätssicherung und Teilnahme an nicht-pharmazeutischen RCTs in der Primärversorgung erheblich erleichtert, bei gleichzeitiger Wahrung der ICH-GCP-Standards.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin (editor). 59. Kongress für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin. (Hannover, 01-03 October 2025). German Medical Science GMS Publishing House (Düsseldorf)

LGBTIQ+ Personen sind häufig von sozialen Belastungen betroffen, für die es in der hausärztlichen Versorgung bislang nur unzureichende nicht-klinische Unterstützungsangebote gibt. Im europäischen Forschungsprojekt SP-EU wird das Konzept des Sozialen Rezepts gezielt an die Bedürfnisse dieser Zielgruppe angepasst und anschließend in einer multizentrischen randomisiert-kontrollierten Studie in acht Ländern evaluiert. Die Weiterentwicklung erfolgt in einem partizipativen, dreiphasigen Co-Creation-Prozess unter aktiver Einbindung von LGBTIQ+ Personen und FachakteurInnen. Erste Ergebnisse zeigen die Bedeutung gendersensibler, diskriminierungskritischer Ansätze sowie niedrigschwelliger Zugänge, um eine diversitätssensible und bedarfsgerechte Primärversorgung nachhaltig zu stärken.

Eurohealth, 31(2): pp. 12-15

Social prescribing connects people to community activities, like arts, creative events, or nature walks, aiming to enhance their health and well-being. It addresses health determinants, offers a person-centred, health-promoting approach, and helps reduce pressure on health systems. By increasing engagement, fostering trust, and strengthening social connections, social prescribing can contribute to better health outcomes. When designed inclusively, it can advance health equity by reaching underserved groups. Although interest is rising across Europe, long-term success relies on consistent funding, seamless integration into health and social systems, and investment in community resources to generate widespread and lasting positive effects.

OSF Generalised Systematic Review Registration, DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/KVAPQ

This registered rapid review protocol aims to systematically identify, analyse, and synthesise existing manuals, protocols, and training resources on social prescribing to provide a structured overview of current concepts, implementation strategies, and educational approaches. Through a comprehensive literature and document analysis, the study seeks to extract key components, quality criteria, and best practices that can inform the further development, standardisation, and context-sensitive adaptation of social prescribing interventions, particularly within European primary care research and participatory co-creation processes.

OSF Open-Ended Registration, DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/R8KVX

This study protocol describes the co-creation methodology of the European SP-EU project, which aims to adapt social prescribing to improve access to health and care services for people in vulnerable situations. Social prescribing links primary care with community-based social supports, yet existing models rarely reflect the specific needs of vulnerable populations. Using a structured three-phase co-creation framework, the project actively involves LGBTIQ individuals, refugees and first-generation immigrants, and older adults living alone in the development process. By combining a rapid review of existing social prescribing manuals with participatory workshops, local advisory board feedback, and a final consensus conference, the project seeks to produce tailored, equity-oriented social prescribing models that will be evaluated in a large pragmatic randomised controlled trial across Europe.

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BMC Primary Care 25, Article number: 441

A survey of German general practitioners (GPs) found strong support for integrating medical and non-medical services in primary care, with social prescribing and social work rated most meaningful. Over 65% saw value in using at least one care model, and 25% supported joining integrated primary care centers. Younger and female GPs were more receptive, while older and male GPs were more skeptical. Overall, GPs found the models meaningful but had reservations about practical implementation.