ArticleFrontiers in public health2026
Connecting for health: qualitative exploration of community nursing in social prescribing for social determinants of health.
Article in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: The growing recognition of social determinants of health (SDOH) has prompted health systems to adopt integrated community-based approaches beyond traditional biomedical care. Social prescribing, which connects patients to non-clinical community resources, is an emerging strategy for improving population health and supporting preventive care. In China, rapid population aging and an increasing chronic disease burden have accelerated policy interest in community-oriented healthcare models, aligned with the Healthy China 2030 initiative. Despite this shift, empirical evidence on the role of community nurses in social prescribing remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to explore community nurses contributions to the implementation of social prescribing in China and identify the key roles and processes through which they address the social determinants of health in community settings. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, China based on constructivist grounded theory principles. Twenty-four community nurses with experience in social prescribing or related coordination practices were recruited using a theoretical sampling method for this study. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns of meaning and role development. Results: Six interconnected themes characterized community nurses' contributions to social prescribing: (1) patient education and empowerment to enhance self-management, (2) community partnership building and resource brokerage, (3) care coordination and navigation across health and social systems, (4) strengthening social connections to reduce isolation, (5) professional role expansion and identity transformation, and (6) policy advocacy aimed at improving system integration and sustainability. The findings demonstrate that nurses function as boundary-spanning agents linking clinical services with community assets, thereby facilitating holistic, person-centered care. Conclusion: Community nurses play a central leadership role in operationalizing social prescribing within China's community healthcare reforms. Their expanded functions support prevention, social integration, and health equity by directly addressing SDOH. Embedding nurse-led social prescribing into policy frameworks, workforce training, and integrated referral systems may strengthen sustainable community health strategies and advance healthy aging in China.
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