ArticleBMJ open2019
The impact of the Luton social prescribing programme on energy expenditure: a quantitative before-and-after study.
Article in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 43 citations in OpenAlex.
- Outcomes and instruments used in social prescribing: a modified umbrella review.Health promotion and chronic disease prevention in Canada : research, policy and practice · 2024Pooled it
- Effectiveness of system navigation programs linking primary care with community-based health and social services: a systematic review.BMC health services research · 2023Pooled it
- Social prescribing outcomes: a mapping review of the evidence from 13 countries to identify key common outcomes.Frontiers in medicine · 2023Pooled it
- Effectiveness and active ingredients of social prescribing interventions targeting mental health: a systematic review.BMJ open · 2022Pooled it
- Perspectives of stakeholders in Danish voluntary sports clubs on engaging in potential social prescribing programmes: a qualitative case study.BMC primary care · 2026Article
- A taxonomy of children and young people's social prescribing models: a multi-site implementation case study in England.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Exploring contextual barriers and enablers for the potential involvement of voluntary sports clubs in social prescribing: a qualitative case study in Denmark.BMC primary care · 2025Article
- The impact of COVID-19 on physical activity and mental health: A mixed-methods approach.Journal of health psychology · 2025Article
- The challenges and rewards of social prescribing in family medicine.Frontiers in health services · 2024Article
- Article
- Models of social prescribing to address non-medical needs in adults: a scoping review.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Mental health experiences and coping strategies of BAME care workers who worked in nursing and residential care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Luton, England.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Financing Approaches to Social Prescribing Programs in England and the United States.The Milbank quarterly · 2022Article
- Article
- Evaluation of the Impact and Implementation of Social Prescribing in Primary Healthcare Units in Lisbon: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol.International journal of integrated care · 2021Article
- The Role of Intermediaries in Connecting Community-Dwelling Adults to Local Physical Activity and Exercise: A Scoping Review.International journal of integrated careArticle
- Establishing Internationally Accepted Conceptual and Operational Definitions of Social Prescribing Through Expert Consensus: A Delphi Study Protocol.International journal of integrated careArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe objective of this study was to assess the change in energy expenditure levels of service users after participation in the Luton social prescribing programme.
designUncontrolled before-and-after study.
settingThis study was set in the East of England (Luton).
participantsService users with complete covariate information and baseline measurements (n=146) were included in the analysis.
interventionSocial prescribing, which is an initiative that aims to link patients in primary care with sources of support within the community sector to improve their health, well-being and care experience. Service users were referred to 12 sessions (free of charge), usually provided by third sector organisations. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Energy expenditure measured as metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes per week.
resultsUsing a Bayesian zero-inflated negative binomial model to account for a large number of observed zeros in the data, 95% posterior intervals show that energy expenditure from all levels of physical activities increased post intervention (walking 41.7% (40.31%, 43.11%); moderate 5.0% (2.94%, 7.09%); vigorous 107.3% (98.19%, 116.20%) and total 56.3% (54.77%, 57.69%)). The probability of engaging in physical activity post intervention increased, in three of four MET physical activity levels, for those individuals who were inactive at the start of the programme. Age has a negative effect on energy expenditure from any physical activity level. Similarly, working status has a negative effect on energy expenditure in all but one MET physical activity level. No consistent pattern was observed across physical activity levels in the association between gender and energy expenditure.
conclusionThis study shows that social prescribing may have the potential to increase the physical activity levels of service users and promote the uptake of physical activity in inactive patient groups. Results of this study can inform future research in the field, which could be of use for commissioners and policy makers.
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