Social Prescribing in General Practice: A Systematic Review of Its Impact on Health Outcomes and Primary Care Delivery

Abstract

Introduction. Social prescribing is a person-centered primary 
care approach that connects patients with non-clinical community 
resources to address social determinants of health. This review 
evaluated its effectiveness on health outcomes, health-related 
quality of life, mental well-being, and healthcare utilization.
Methods. A systematic review was conducted according to 
PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of 
Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for 
studies published from January 2000 to December 2025. Eligible 
studies included adults receiving social prescribing initiated 
through general practice or primary care. Outcomes included 
health-related quality of life, mental health, social well-being, 
patient satisfaction, healthcare utilization, and clinical outcomes. 
Due to methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized 
narratively.
Results. Social prescribing was generally associated with improved 
psychological well-being, reduced loneliness and social isolation, 
increased patient activation, and modest improvements in health
related quality of life. Several studies reported reductions in 
primary care consultations and emergency healthcare utilization, 
although findings were heterogeneous. Effective implementation 
was influenced by link-worker support, community engagement, 
availability of local resources, and sustained organizational support.
Conclusions. Social prescribing appears to be a promising 
complement to conventional primary care, particularly for 
improving psychosocial well-being and person-centered care. 
However, further high-quality randomized controlled trials 
and long-term implementation studies are needed to establish 
its clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.