{
  "abstract": "Background Social prescribing is gaining global traction as a strategy to reduce pressure on primary healthcare systems and enhance access to community-based support. Community assets involved in social prescribing include arts organisations, fitness initiatives, financial guidance, volunteering opportunities, social support, and various health and wellbeing programs. This systematic review explores the evidence on measurement tools and approaches to economic evaluation of social prescribing initiatives worldwide.Methods A systematic review methodology was applied to search seven databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Trials, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Ovid Global Health) for literature on health economics and social prescribing. Grey literature and citation searching were also included. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts using the Covidence systematic review management software. Conflicts were resolved through discussion. Data extraction was conducted independently by two reviewers, and a narrative synthesis was developed.Results Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, including n=9 studies from database searches and n=3 studies via citation searching. Four thematic categories emerged: (1) Dance and movement-based social prescribing; (2) Exercise-based or loneliness prevention initiatives; (3) Nature-based interventions; and (4) Coaching programmes. Social Return on Investment (SROI) studies consistently reported positive returns for every £1 invested, particularly in interventions targeting mental health and loneliness. However, evidence from randomised controlled trials was mixed. For instance, a chair-based yoga intervention showed no improvement in health-related quality of life, despite high participant satisfaction.Conclusion There is a notable scarcity of social prescribing evaluations incorporating health economic analysis. While community-based interventions supporting mental health and wellbeing are expanding, more rigorous and standardised economic evaluations are needed to inform policy and funding decisions.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sci, Dublin, Ireland",
        "Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Llinos Haf Spencer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sci, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Aoife Keating"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sci, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Elizabeth Morrow"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sci, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Mary Lynch"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P14-5 The health economics of social prescribing: a systematic review",
  "uid": "9cc9618b-5490-51fe-b323-9e84dec04320"
}