ArticleBMJ open quality2026
Qualitative exploration of service users and social prescribing link workers of the Armed Forces Community social prescribing scheme in Cornwall.
Article in BMJ open quality, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Models, implementation, and reported outcomes of social prescribing interventions: a scoping review.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe Armed Forces Community (AFC) experience significant health inequalities and barriers to accessing support. Cornwall, England, has one of the highest AFC populations. A social prescribing service, delivered by Active Plus, was developed to improve physical and mental well-being and target wider determinants of health of this population. Uniquely, the service is delivered by social prescribing link workers who are themselves veterans.
objectiveThis evaluation aimed to qualitatively explore the experiences of the service users and the social prescribing link workers.
methodSemistructured interviews of five service users and four social prescribing link workers were conducted online using Google Meet. Service users were sampled to reflect diversity in service branch, age and time since leaving the Armed Forces. Informed consent processes were carried out. Data were transcribed, checked, anonymised and inductively thematically analysed.
resultsService users had struggled to transition from a military to a civilian identity. Referrals were for mental health, social isolation, housing, finances, physical health and domestic abuse. Having a social prescribing link worker who was a veteran was a crucial component of establishing trust, without the need to explain military culture or experiences. This was instrumental in helping service users engage more fully with the service offered. Service users reported improvements in their living conditions and mental health, were more connected to other people and had a renewed sense of hope and optimism.
conclusionThis is the first report of experiences of the AFC receiving bespoke social prescribing support. The findings highlight the crucial nature of designing the social prescribing service to resonate with military culture and the difficulties of transitioning to a civilian identity. Service users had improved well-being and were supported with a range of determinants of health. Further research needs to be carried out on other AFC members to confirm the findings.
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