ArticleBMC public health2025
The potentials of digital technology in social prescribing: a qualitative study of key stakeholders' perspectives.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Digital social prescribing: a concept analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Review
- Developing a digital ecological momentary assessment tool for 'real time' evaluation in implementation science: testing through evaluation of a novel digital social prescribing intervention.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Thematic analysis of how general practitioners perceive digital social prescribing as an intervention aiming at promoting psychosocial health and wellbeing in older adults.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe automation and effective communication provided by technological facilities allow service providers to deliver social wellbeing activities in a prompt and cost-effective manner. This study explored the perspectives of social prescribers, coordinators, and community providers on the potential of digital technology in social prescribing and the challenges to its implementation.
methodsWe conducted a qualitative study and held three Focus Group Discussion (FGD) sessions with a sample of 18 stakeholders in the Northwest of England, UK including social prescribing coordinators, social prescribers, and voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector providers
resultsEight themes were identified regarding the potentials and challenges of digital social prescribing from the study participants' viewpoints. The main themes highlighting advantages include capacity and resource management, coordination and integration of support services, access and equity, and outcome evaluation. The challenges identified are digital illiteracy, awareness concerns, financial matters, and a lack of evidence.
conclusionsOur findings confirm that digital social prescribing offers significant potential to improve accessibility, time efficiency, and personalization in service delivery. However, they also underscore critical challenges, including technical barriers, financial constraints, and a lack of digital literacy among users and providers. Stakeholders emphasized that while digital SP can streamline referrals and enhance data sharing, its success depends on addressing inequalities in access to technology.
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Registered trials
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