Older adults and social prescribing experience, outcomes, and processes: a meta-aggregation systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Social prescribing is a complex care model, which aims to address unmet non-medical needs and connect people to community resources. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize available evidence from qualitative methods (e.g. interviews or focus groups) on experience, outcomes, and processes for social prescribing and older adults (from the person or provider level). STUDY DESIGN: This was a systematic review using the Joanna Brigg's meta-aggregative approach. METHODS: We searched multiple online databases for peer-reviewed studies, which included older adults aged ≥60 years (group mean age) and social prescribing experience, outcomes, or processes. We included all qualitative or mixed methods designs from all years and languages. Date of the last primary search was March 24, 2022. Two authors used online software to conduct the screening independently and then decided on the final list of included studies via notes and online discussion. RESULTS: We screened 376 citations (after duplicates) and included eight publications. There were 197 older adult participants (59% women), and many people were living with chronic health conditions. Few details were provided for participants' ethnicity, education, and related factors. We created five synthesized findings related to (1) the approach of social prescribing; implementation factors such as (2) relationships, (3) behavior change strategies, and (4) the environment; and (5) older adults' perceived health and psychosocial outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited number of available studies, data provide an overview of people and processes involved with social prescribing, identified research and practice gaps, and possible next steps for implementing and evaluating social prescribing for older adults in primary care.

Concept mapping applied to the intersection between older adults' outdoor walking and the built and social environments.

OBJECTIVE: For older adults, the ability to navigate walking routes in the outdoor environment allows them to remain active and socially engaged, facilitating community participation and independence. In order to enhance outdoor walking, it is important to understand the interaction of older adults within their local environments and the influence of broader stakeholder priorities that impact these environments. Thus, we aimed to synthesize perspectives from stakeholders to identify elements of the built and social environments that influence older adults' ability to walk outdoors. METHOD: We applied a concept mapping approach with the input of diverse stakeholders (N=75) from British Columbia, Canada in 2012. RESULTS: A seven-cluster map best represented areas that influence older adults' outdoor walking. Priority areas identified included sidewalks, crosswalks, and neighborhood features. CONCLUSION: Individual perceptions and elements of the built and social environments intersect to influence walking behaviors, although targeted studies that address this area are needed.

Social Prescribing Outcomes for Trials (SPOT): Protocol for a modified Delphi study on core outcomes.

PURPOSE: This is a study protocol to co-create with knowledge users a core outcome set focused on middle-aged and older adults (40 years+) for use in social prescribing research. METHODS: We will follow the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) guide and use modified Delphi methods, including collating outcomes reported in social prescribing publications, online surveys, and discussion with our team to finalize the core outcome set. We intentionally center this work on people who deliver and receive social prescribing and include methods to evaluate collaboration. Our three-part process includes: (1) identifying published systematic reviews on social prescribing for adults to extract reported outcomes; and (2) up to three rounds of online surveys to rate the importance of outcomes for social prescribing. For this part, we will invite people (n = 240) who represent the population experienced in social prescribing, including researchers, members of social prescribing organizations, and people who receive social prescribing and their caregivers. Finally, we will (3) convene a virtual team meeting to discuss and rank the findings and finalize the core outcome set and our knowledge mobilization plan. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study designed to use a modified Delphi method to co-create core outcomes for social prescribing. Development of a core outcome set contributes to improved knowledge synthesis via consistency in measures and terminology. We aim to develop guidance for future research, and specifically on the use of core outcomes for social prescribing at the person/patient, provider, program, and societal-level.