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Abstract
Aim: We aimed to explore participant perspectives on social prescribing for mental health
and wellbeing and the acceptability of community pharmacists as members of social
prescribing pathways that support people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
Background: Social prescribing aims to support people with poor health related to sociodemographic determinants. Positive effects of social prescribing on self-belief, mood, wellbeing, and health are well documented, including a return to work for long-term
unemployed.
Methods: The study was set in a city in southwest England with diverse cultural and sociodemographics. We recruited social prescribing stakeholders, including community
pharmacists, to either one of 17 interviews or a focus group with nine members of the
public.
Findings: An inductive iterative approach to thematic analysis produced four superordinate
themes: (1) Offering choice a non-pharmacological option, (2) Supporting pharmacy
communities - “It’s an extension of what we do.” (3) Stakeholder perspectives - pharmacists
are very busy and their expertise unknown by some, (4) Potential for pharmacy in primary
care.
Stakeholders viewed community pharmacists as local to and accessible by their community.
Pharmacists perceived referral to social prescribing services as part of their current role.
General practitioner participants considered pharmacy involvement could reduce their
workload and expand the primary healthcare team. Importantly, general practitioners and
community pharmacists viewed social prescribing as a non-pharmacological alternative to
prescribing unnecessary antidepressants and reduce associated adverse effects. All
participants voiced concerns about pharmacy dispensing busyness as a potential barrier to
involvement and pharmacists requesting mental health training updates.
Key findings suggest community pharmacists offer a potential alternative to the general
practitioner for people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety seeking access to support and health information. However, community pharmacists need appropriately
commissioned and funded involvement in social prescribing, including backfill for ongoing
dispensing, medicines optimisation and Mental Health First Aid training.
and wellbeing and the acceptability of community pharmacists as members of social
prescribing pathways that support people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
Background: Social prescribing aims to support people with poor health related to sociodemographic determinants. Positive effects of social prescribing on self-belief, mood, wellbeing, and health are well documented, including a return to work for long-term
unemployed.
Methods: The study was set in a city in southwest England with diverse cultural and sociodemographics. We recruited social prescribing stakeholders, including community
pharmacists, to either one of 17 interviews or a focus group with nine members of the
public.
Findings: An inductive iterative approach to thematic analysis produced four superordinate
themes: (1) Offering choice a non-pharmacological option, (2) Supporting pharmacy
communities - “It’s an extension of what we do.” (3) Stakeholder perspectives - pharmacists
are very busy and their expertise unknown by some, (4) Potential for pharmacy in primary
care.
Stakeholders viewed community pharmacists as local to and accessible by their community.
Pharmacists perceived referral to social prescribing services as part of their current role.
General practitioner participants considered pharmacy involvement could reduce their
workload and expand the primary healthcare team. Importantly, general practitioners and
community pharmacists viewed social prescribing as a non-pharmacological alternative to
prescribing unnecessary antidepressants and reduce associated adverse effects. All
participants voiced concerns about pharmacy dispensing busyness as a potential barrier to
involvement and pharmacists requesting mental health training updates.
Key findings suggest community pharmacists offer a potential alternative to the general
practitioner for people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety seeking access to support and health information. However, community pharmacists need appropriately
commissioned and funded involvement in social prescribing, including backfill for ongoing
dispensing, medicines optimisation and Mental Health First Aid training.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Primary Health Care Research and Development |
| Publication status | Acceptance date - 30 Jun 2024 |
Keywords
- Social Prescribing
- social prescribing/social prescription
- Community pharmacist
- Community pharmacy
- Community pharmacy services
- Community Pharmacy Services/organization & administration
- Mental health
- Depression
- Anxiety
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacy
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Embargoed Document
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- 1 Finished
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Exploring Perspective of Social Prescribing to Support People with Poor Health held by General Practitioners, the Public and Community Pharmacies
Taylor, D. (PI), Jones, M. (CoI) & Taylor, A. (CoI)
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG
1/09/16 → 30/06/17
Project: Central government, health and local authorities