Call to embed social prescribing into entire patient journey

Social determinants of health should be embedded into the entire patient journey from initial registration throughout ongoing care, the RACGP has said.

It called for this to be done through embedding social prescribing into medical software systems and integrating validated tools into practice workflows.

Australia is facing a growing loneliness epidemic with around one in three adults and two in five young people affected by social isolation.

The health impact of loneliness is worse than smoking 15 cigarettes a day and it is now recognised as an independent risk factor for many chronic, noncommunicable diseases.

It is linked to an estimated 870,000 deaths globally each year.

Social determinants of health include:

• social inclusion, isolation and loneliness
• financial, housing and transport security
• food security and safety at home
• family and relationship supports
• employment, education and work status
• stress levels and physical activity.

These can account for 30-55% of health outcomes.

Dr Kuljit Singh, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Social Prescribing, said and GPs are best placed to address issues relating to loneliness and social isolation.

“GPs don’t just treat disease, we care for people within the context of their lives,” she said. 

“Loneliness, isolation, financial stress and lack of community connection all have profound impacts on physical and mental health. Social prescribing helps address these issues by recognising community connection as part of the treatment.

“General practice can’t respond to unmet social need if we don’t routinely identify it.”

Validated tools such as the UCLA Loneliness Scale could be integrated into everyday practice workflows, enabling GPs to better understand patients’ lived circumstances and deliver care that reflects what matters to them, the Collage said.

Recognising community connection as healthcare is a critical step, Dr Singh said. 

“Activities involving movement, nature, arts, culture, education and heritage are not extras, they are evidence-based interventions.

“Social prescribing is not a ‘nice to have’, it is a must have if we are to curb the rise of chronic physical, mental and social illness affecting Australians and our communities.”