Characteristics of study participants

Table 1 depicts the characteristics of study participants.

Table 1 Study participants’ characteristics (N = 18)

Themes developed from the analysis

As shown in Table 2, we identified eight main themes—four reflecting the advantages of digital social prescribing and four outlining its challenges, each with 2–4 subthemes.

Table 2 Themes and Sub-themes of respondents’ viewpoint toward digital social prescribing potentials and challenges

Advantages

Capacity and resource management

Workload implications

This sub-theme corresponds to how digital social prescribing tools can alleviate or add to the workload of healthcare providers. Most service providers agreed that integrating digitalisation into social prescribing allows them additional time to engage with service users more effectively. They emphasised that establishing strong relationships with service users requires dedicated time for fostering friendly and empathetic interactions. Several participants highlighted that a successful social prescribing programme needs adequate time and resources especially when dealing with service users with complicated mental health or social needs. Several link workers added that having sufficient time enables them to build a deeper understanding of service users, fostering an atmosphere of mutual understanding and commitment to address their unmet needs and concerns. “Most of the time I’m busy with doing admin works rather than spending time with users. We need time to develop trust and closer relationship with people, so they feel free to discuss their concerns openly” (SP2). This sentiment was echoed by others who emphasised that digital tools, by streamlining tasks, allow staff to better meet complex social and mental health needs.

Time efficiency and service effectiveness

Participants agreed that digital SP systems could increase efficiency by reducing manual tasks and enabling timely service delivery. SP8 stated, “It’s really important to design technology-based SP in a way that it delivers more flexible interventions to people in a timelier manner and more reasonable cost.” Access to real-time data was also seen as a key enabler for personalised care, as SP4 described: “Literally, using digital social prescribing provides an opportunity for service providers to share their best experiences electronically, and improves the flow of people in the social prescribing system.”

Coordination and integration of support services

Integration with existing systems

Several participants noted the importance of integrating DSP with existing NHS and local authority systems. SP12 envisioned, “A group of digital technicians can simply develop and implement an integrated electronic social prescribing referral system with electronic patient records.” SP2 added that such integration improves community connectedness: “Digital social prescribing lets patients feel more connected to their community.” SP7 emphasized the value of secure systems to ensure privacy: “This shared vision will help the whole health system develop participatory plans for digitally person-based services… with maximum information security.”

Inter-provider communication and continuity of care

Participants recognised that digital SP platforms enhance continuity by allowing real-time tracking and uninterrupted service delivery. SP7 highlighted, “I always feel a gap in the social prescribing system which mainly deals with inconsistent tracking… and delivering real-time feedback.” SP10 added that digitisation can offload certain burdens: “Sometimes you think you are overwhelmed with several tasks… which can be easily removed by digitalisation.”

Referral processes and information sharing

Improved information sharing and streamlined referrals were recurring themes. SP5 commented, “E-referrals can avoid pointless referrals; they can provide effective care to the right people in the most proper setting and time.” SP11 saw efficiency gains: “Using technology can minimise the need for paperwork and manual requests for users’ information.” SP15 emphasized reducing disparities through better system integration: “Digital technologies can reduce disparities in health outcomes if we simplify the process of technology… so that data flows effortlessly.” Participants also noted how DSP enhances staff learning and skill-building. SP18 suggested: “Why not try online courses for social support counselling methods?”

Participants also believed that integrating community directory software with electronic patient records could facilitate streamlined referrals to non-therapeutic activities that precisely match their social needs. They further noted that this approach enables patient-centred interventions in non-clinical settings, enhancing the overall effectiveness of interventions. “Don’t you think digital technologies can reduce disparities in health outcomes if we simplify the process of technology to users to interact with the system in a way that makes data flow effortlessly between different information systems?” (SP15).

Access and equity

Accessibility to community well-being activities

Digital SP was seen as essential for improving access, especially for people in rural or underserved areas. SP13 observed, “Online consultation services… let users access services anywhere, anytime based on what they actually need.” Participants added that online platforms help manage workload and increase care continuity.

Tailored-based services

Many participants agreed that a digital social prescribing system aims to provide personalised and tailored services aligned with users’ needs and expectations. They explained that designing the system in such a way that it matches activities to individuals’ preferences, comorbidities, and locality would tailor non-medical interventions to address their needs efficiently. They underscored that social prescribing services should complement clinical approaches by providing support targeting the social determinants of health and non-medical factors impacting their wellbeing. Another fundamental requirement mentioned by study participants was the design of an information system facilitating connections across various healthcare settings, while providing essential information about clients’ health conditions, socio-economic status, and medical backgrounds. “Even clinicians and GPs should be informed of the key role of social factors like housing, education, income, and a wider range of environmental factors” (SP9).

Self-reliance

Some service providers expressed that fostering digital skills and knowledge among individuals not only instils self-confidence in addressing their social needs but also empowers them to self-monitor and self-manage their health and wellbeing. According to the interviewees, involving service users in the design of the digital platform is a practical approach to ensure system compliance with users’ needs. This strategy also enhances their social engagement, boosts their self-confidence, and ensures the acceptance of the system among a larger number of clients. “Sure, when we assign a piece of work or responsibility to people, umm, I mean when the responsibility is shared among different community members and then step-by-step, we try to enable them believe on themselves, be self-reliant and depend on their own capabilities” (SP5).

Outcome evaluation

Digital SP as a tool to monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Among various capabilities that can be mentioned for digital social prescribing, some of the study participants acknowledged it as a helping hand in providing key system performance indicators that enable them measure users’ experience and their health outcomes. “Why shouldn’t we think of a digital platform empowering us to better measure the impact of community services on people’s health and wellbeing?” (SP1). Some of the study participants emphasised the necessity of developing a digital social care record capable of documenting all information related to the social care services provided to individuals throughout the social prescribing pathway. “If we see digital social prescribing within a broader context, more potentials will move forward” (SP4).

Continuous evaluation of the referral programme

They believed that replacing paper records by a digital system would provide up-to-date electronic records that contain individual’s health and social care information. When questioned about digital systems, some of the participants stressed the need for more knowledge regarding the prospect of digitally recording social care services for service users. Others advocated for the digital recording system to enable continuous evaluation of the referral programme through a user-friendly application. “The data sharing feature of digitalisation enables us get easy access to some of the relevant clinical history of users, their socio-economic factors, their life-style manner and any other evidence that help us in making best decisions for users” (SP4).

Assessing the effectiveness of Community-based support services

There was strong support for DSP as a tool to assess and improve community-based care. SP13 stated, “It would be a fabulous opportunity to assess our progress and reinforce our accountability.” SP6 noted the value of real-time updates: “The system can be developed in a way that… GPs can be informed of the quality of community care services provided.” SP13 also highlighted the non-clinical impact: “I feel passionate about seeing people having an increased level of quality of life without receiving any medication or clinical care.”

Challenges

Digital illiteracy

Technical difficulties

Participants identified varying levels of digital competence as a barrier to engaging with SP tools. Service providers acknowledged the need for both users and staff to acquire technical skills to effectively navigate digital systems. SP14 warned, “Not only raising awareness of digital technologies across the whole ICS and end-users is key, but also the ability to create connection between different record systems is a major risk which might encounter several errors in the functionality of the system.”

Data insecurity

Some of the participants also felt concern of some data security issues or complex processes that might come out of digitalisation. “Without training it would be a big challenge” (SP18).

Awareness concerns

The potential for digital SP systems to either bridge or widen gaps in service accessibility was another key concern mentioned by some of the study participants.

Lack of awareness

Many participants admitted to limited knowledge of existing DSP platforms and how they function. SP16 commented, “If anything really exists, we should know what it involves, or what advantages it has. Lack of information about this critical subject will lead to failure for sure.” To address this gap, some suggested more visibility and targeted communication. SP8 added, “The fundamental factor for the success of digital social prescribing is giving different people with various backgrounds adequate knowledge they need to successfully work with the system.”

Lack of skills

Users’ empowerment and skill building were two important strategies mentioned by service users to facilitate the development of ongoing technologies in SP area. “What do we call it? Yeah! skill building is essential as it ensures that everyone has access to the knowledge” (SP9).

Financial matters

Financial insecurity and lack of infrastructural resources

Almost all participants pointed to funding constraints as a major hurdle for implementing DSP. The costs of developing and maintaining digital infrastructure were frequently cited. SP15 asked, “Do we afford for paying expensive services and procurement support for digital investments?” Others emphasized the often-overlooked importance of financial guidance. SP11 noted, “It might act as a safety valve; most of the time we forget about financial and logistic services which are of great importance.”

Lack of evidence

Lack of data on the effectiveness of digital SP

One of the challenges that has been mentioned by a few study participants was lack of evidence around the impact and effectiveness of digital social prescribing. Participants highlighted a scarcity of robust studies demonstrating the impact and effectiveness of digital social prescribing (SP) interventions. This absence of empirical data leads to scepticism among stakeholders regarding the efficacy of digital SP solutions. They added that lack of longitudinal studies aimed at evaluating the impact of digitalisation on social health needs, mental health conditions, or health-related quality of life is a significant challenge that prevents different stakeholders from believing in the effectiveness of these technologies. There is a recognized gap in long-term studies assessing the effects of digitalization on social health needs, mental health conditions, and health-related quality of life. “To my knowledge, there are inadequate number of studies agreeing on the outcomes of digital social prescribing and there are still lots of unknowns” (SP17).

Stakeholder scepticism

This lack of data contributed to scepticism among some stakeholders, which could inhibit wider adoption. SP14 reflected, “Don’t we need some more basic information about the effectiveness of such approaches and even their cost saving effects?” Others agreed that visible and accessible evidence would help secure greater buy-in from healthcare professionals and policy leaders.

These challenges highlight the need for systemic investment not just in infrastructure, but also in skills, evidence generation, and communication strategies to support equitable and sustainable implementation of digital SP.

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