The main scope of this study is to explore the concept of Social Prescribing (SP) and to analyse its applicability in the Italian context. Through a detailed literature analysis combining both academic and grey literature sources, an outline of the key features of SP was developed, which was fundamental for the mapping and selection of Italian projects. The innovation of this research should be considered as the SP model is very recent and there are no studies yet applied to the Italian context. For this reason, the results obtained have the purpose to represent a starting point for future studies in the field of Social Prescribing in Italy. Addressing social determinants of health, SP is often referred to as a potential action towards structural change between the health sector and the community. Thanks to the literature analysis carried out, it was possible to develop an accurate evaluation of various aspects of SP: its relationship with UK welfare policies, its implementation models, the figure of the Link Worker (LW), the community activation and the creation of social capital, its impact assessment, the spread of SP worldwide and the consequences brought about by the pandemic. The in-depth case studies led to the assertion of the lack of abundant evidence on practical examples of LW and SP effectiveness. Based on this analysis, an outline of SP key ingredients was provided, articulated in recognition of presence of social determinants of health (social needs and local context), holistic approach between health and social care sectors (multi-stakeholder approach), referral process, person-centred services (LW figure), asset-based approach (third sector involvement). This schema was fundamental for mapping and selecting specific case studies from Fondazione Cariplo and Good Practice Community Building Network. Foundations/non-profit organisations and/or modest regional/ministerial funds were found to be the main financiers of the selected socially useful initiatives. These projects deal with loneliness and social exclusion, which are known to be the main driver of SP development. Future studies could investigate those questions raised related to the selected Italian projects to fully understand the applicability of SP. In a time of change for Italy, the current reform plan, known as Piano nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR), gives hope that SP can start to spread also in this country.
Lo scopo principale di questo studio è quello di esplorare il concetto di Social Prescribing (SP) e di analizzare la sua applicabilità nel contesto italiano. Attraverso un'analisi dettagliata della letteratura che combina fonti sia accademiche che di letteratura grigia, è stato sviluppato uno schema delle caratteristiche chiave del SP, fondamentale per la mappatura e la selezione dei progetti italiani. L'innovazione di questa ricerca va tenuta in considerazione in quanto il modello di SP è molto recente e non esistono ancora studi applicati al contesto italiano. Per questo motivo, i risultati ottenuti hanno lo scopo di rappresentare un punto di partenza per futuri studi nel campo del SP in Italia. Affrontando i determinanti sociali della salute, il SP è spesso indicato come una potenziale azione verso il cambiamento strutturale tra il settore sanitario e la comunità. Grazie all'analisi della letteratura svolta, è stato possibile sviluppare una valutazione accurata di vari aspetti del SP: il suo rapporto con le politiche di welfare britanniche, i suoi modelli di implementazione, la figura del Link Worker (LW), l'attivazione della comunità e la creazione di capitale sociale, la valutazione dell'impatto, la diffusione del SP nel mondo e le conseguenze portate dalla pandemia. Gli approfonditi studi di caso hanno portato ad affermare la mancanza di prove abbondanti sugli esempi pratici del LW e sull'efficacia del SP. Sulla base di questa analisi, è stato fornito uno schema degli ingredienti chiave della SP, articolato nel riconoscimento della presenza dei determinanti sociali della salute (bisogni sociali e contesto locale), approccio olistico tra i settori della sanità e dell'assistenza sociale (approccio multi-stakeholder), processo di referral, servizi centrati sulla persona (figura del LW), approccio asset-based (coinvolgimento del terzo settore). Questo schema è stato fondamentale per la mappatura e la selezione dei casi studio specifici di Fondazione Cariplo e Good Practice Community Building Network. Fondazioni/organizzazioni no-profit e/o modesti fondi regionali/ministeriali sono risultati essere i principali finanziatori di iniziative socialmente utili selezionate. Questi progetti si occupano di solitudine ed esclusione sociale, che sono noti per essere il principale motore dello sviluppo del SP. Studi futuri potrebbero indagare i dubbi sollevati in relazione ai progetti italiani selezionati per comprendere appieno l'applicabilità del SP. In un momento di cambiamento per l'Italia, l'attuale piano di riforma, noto come Piano nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR), dà la speranza che il SP possa iniziare a diffondersi anche in questo paese.
Social prescribing : a means for combining social and health care ?
LINARI, ALESSIA
2020/2021
Abstract
The main scope of this study is to explore the concept of Social Prescribing (SP) and to analyse its applicability in the Italian context. Through a detailed literature analysis combining both academic and grey literature sources, an outline of the key features of SP was developed, which was fundamental for the mapping and selection of Italian projects. The innovation of this research should be considered as the SP model is very recent and there are no studies yet applied to the Italian context. For this reason, the results obtained have the purpose to represent a starting point for future studies in the field of Social Prescribing in Italy. Addressing social determinants of health, SP is often referred to as a potential action towards structural change between the health sector and the community. Thanks to the literature analysis carried out, it was possible to develop an accurate evaluation of various aspects of SP: its relationship with UK welfare policies, its implementation models, the figure of the Link Worker (LW), the community activation and the creation of social capital, its impact assessment, the spread of SP worldwide and the consequences brought about by the pandemic. The in-depth case studies led to the assertion of the lack of abundant evidence on practical examples of LW and SP effectiveness. Based on this analysis, an outline of SP key ingredients was provided, articulated in recognition of presence of social determinants of health (social needs and local context), holistic approach between health and social care sectors (multi-stakeholder approach), referral process, person-centred services (LW figure), asset-based approach (third sector involvement). This schema was fundamental for mapping and selecting specific case studies from Fondazione Cariplo and Good Practice Community Building Network. Foundations/non-profit organisations and/or modest regional/ministerial funds were found to be the main financiers of the selected socially useful initiatives. These projects deal with loneliness and social exclusion, which are known to be the main driver of SP development. Future studies could investigate those questions raised related to the selected Italian projects to fully understand the applicability of SP. In a time of change for Italy, the current reform plan, known as Piano nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR), gives hope that SP can start to spread also in this country.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2021_10_Linari.pdf
non accessibile
Descrizione: Testo della tesi
Dimensione
2.87 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
2.87 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
I documenti in POLITesi sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
https://hdl.handle.net/10589/179454