Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41287131›Full record

ArticleBMC primary care2025

Effectiveness and value of relationships in link worker social prescribing over an 18-month follow up period.

Leah S Sharman, Shaun Hayes, David Chua, Catherine Haslam, Tegan Cruwys, Jolanda Jetten, S Alexander Haslam, Niamh McNamara, James R Baker, Tracey Johnson and 1 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC primary care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Leah S SharmanSchool of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Shaun HayesSchool of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
David ChuaCentre for Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland, Springfield, Australia.
Catherine HaslamSchool of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Tegan CruwysAustralian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Jolanda JettenSchool of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
S Alexander HaslamSchool of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Niamh McNamaraNottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
James R BakerPrimary & Community Care Services, Gold Coast, Australia.
Tracey JohnsonInala Primary Care, Brisbane, Australia.
Genevieve A DingleSchool of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. g.dingle@psy.uq.edu.au.

Funding

Australian Research Council LP180100761
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTo make confident referrals to link worker social prescribing (LWSP) programs, GPs and other health providers need evidence of their overall effectiveness and the value of the relationships and social activities that contribute to their outcomes. This research aimed to examine these questions in data collected from participants of a LWSP program over an 18-month follow-up period.

methodsSixty-four participants (M

resultsParticipants were referred to a diverse range of social group programs. The number of meaningful social groups that participants belonged to increased from a median of two groups at T1 to three groups at T2; this effect was maintained at T3 (median 3 groups).Linear mixed-effects models found significant improvements across time for loneliness, psychological distress, and self-rated health. Correlations revealed participants' relationships with link workers and group facilitators' skill in fostering belonging at T2 (but not at T1), were associated with improved outcomes at T3.

conclusionsFindings demonstrate positive effects of LWSP on loneliness and health outcomes at 18-month follow-up. The relational skills of link workers in building interpersonal rapport and community group facilitators in enabling a sense of belonging were key to participants' positives outcomes. These findings emphasise that social prescribing is a multifaceted and highly relational health pathway. Strong relational and integrated care are important in achieving improved health outcomes.

trial registrationANZ Clinical Trials Registration number ACTRN12622000801718, retrospectively registered on 08/06/2022.

Indexed as

Referral and ConsultationAdultAgedFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansLonelinessMaleMiddle AgedSocial PrescribingTrustCommunityHealthLonelinessLonger-term outcomesRelationship qualitySocial prescribingWellbeing

Identifiers

PMID41287131
PMCPMC12642025

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.