Social PrEscribing integration in the Care Pathway for people with OsteoArthritis - SPECs-OA

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects ~108 million Europeans, has a rising prevalence, and is one of the top causes of disability. Exercise has proven to improve outcomes, yet only 33% of patients adhere to physical activity guidelines. Social Prescribing (SP) is a public health strategy that connects healthcare with community resources, addressing non-clinical needs such as physical activity and social isolation. Despite its potential, little research has explored SP in OA care. SPECs-OA aims to investigate whether SP can be integrated into OA care pathways, and if so how, through the following specific research objectives: 1) To conduct a rapid systematic review evaluating the effectiveness and cost-related outcomes of SP for chronic conditions; 2) To evaluate the impact and implementation of SP in OA care using an innovative multi-level mixed-methods realist approach, with patients and professionals, exploring how SP works, for which patients, and under what conditions; 3) To co-design an international, transferable framework to guide SP integration in OA care, using World Café methodology, in collaboration with patients, healthcare professionals, and SP stakeholders. SPECs-OA will advance knowledge on the evidence of SP effectiveness for chronic conditions, being to the best of our knowledge the first study to analyse the impact of SP in people with OA. SPECs-OA framework will provide a SP guide for health professionals and OA patients, and influence health policies, to ultimately optimize individual and organizational outcomes. To undertake SPECs-OA, I will relocate to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, where I will receive tailored training on SP, implementation science, realist evaluation, health economics, and collaborative methodologies. This will enhance my expertise in the implementation of innovative interventions with real-world meaning, preparing me to lead future research and contribute to public health initiatives in chronic disease management.