Social prescribing: new trends in global health and opportunities for traditional Chinese medicine_Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Authors：

WANG Xuefeng , WANG Chenlu , WANG Yiying ,  LIU Jianping

Center for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P. R. China;

Corresponding author：

LIU Jianping, Email: liujp@bucm.edu.cn

Keywords：

Social prescribing; Public health; Traditional Chinese medicine; Opportunity

DOI：

10.7507/1672-2531.202503117

Video：

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Social prescription is a medical model in which social resources are integrated to provide personalized support to targeted population. It can improve health outcomes and reduce the pressure on health system by addressing social determinants of health. It is a new trend of global health. This paper introduces social prescribing’s definition, history, components, global development, effectiveness, existing problems, and practice in China, analyzes the common and individual issues faced by social prescription in development, and puts forward the opportunities for integrating traditional Chinese medicine into social prescribing in China, aiming better to realize the "Healthy China 2030" strategy.

1.	Determinants of Health. 2025.
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3.	CDC. Social Determinants of Health. 2025.
4.	A toolkit on how to implement social Prescribing. 2025.
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7.	Muhl C, Mulligan K, Bayoumi I, et al. Establishing internationally accepted conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing through expert consensus: a Delphi study. BMJ Open, 2023, 13(7): e070184.
8.	Drinkwater C, Wildman J, Moffatt S. Social Prescribing. BMJ, 2019, 364: l1285.
9.	Morse DF, Sandhu S, Mulligan K, et al. Global developments in social prescribing. BMJ Glob Health, 2022, 7(5): e008524.
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11.	Bromley by Bow Centre. About the Bromley by bow centre. 2025.
12.	Policy Navigator. NHS Five Year Forward View. 2025.
13.	England NHS. NHS England general practice forward view. 2025.
14.	NHS Long Term Plan. About the NHS long term plan. 2025.
15.	Evaluation of the Rotherham mental health social prescribing service 2015/16-2016/17. The Essence Project. 2025.
16.	Santoni C, Chiva Giurca B, Li TM, et al. Evaluating student perceptions and awareness of social prescribing. Educ Prim Care, 2019, 30(6): 361-367.
17.	Royal Voluntary Service Homepage. 2025.
18.	Social activities. Royal Voluntary Service. 2025.
19.	Esmene DS, Leyshon PC, Leyshon DM. Beyond adherence to social prescriptions: How places, social acquaintances and stories help walking group members to thrive. Health Place, 2020, 64: 102394.
20.	Verma M, Punyani H, Kalra S. Social prescription in diabetes. JPMA, 2020, 70(3): 552-553.
21.	Sharifian N, Zaheed AB, Morris EP, et al. Social network characteristics moderate associations between cortical thickness and cognitive functioning in older adults. Alzheimers Dement, 2022, 18(2): 339-347.
22.	Thomson LJ, Lockyer B, Camic PM, et al. Effects of a museum-based social prescription intervention on quantitative measures of psychological wellbeing in older adults. Perspect Public Health, 2018, 138(1): 28-38.
23.	Chopra RC, Chakrabarthi S, Narayan I, et al. Efficacy of community groups as a social prescription for senior health-insights from a natural experiment during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sci Rep, 2024, 14(1): 24579.
24.	Paquet C, Whitehead J, Shah R, et al. Social prescription interventions addressing social isolation and loneliness in older adults: meta-review integrating on-the-ground resources. J Med Internet Res, 2023, 25: e40213.
25.	Marx V, More KR. Developing scotland's first green health prescription pathway: a one-stop shop for nature-based intervention referrals. Front Psychol, 2022, 13: 817803.
26.	Menhas R, Yang L, Danish Nisar R. Community-based social healthcare practices in China for healthy aging: a social prescription perspective analysis. Front Public Health, 2023, 11: 1252157.
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28.	MUSICINMIND. 2025.
29.	Scarpetti G, Shadowen H, Williams GA, et al. A comparison of social prescribing approaches across twelve high-income countries. Health Policy, 2024, 142: 104992.
30.	Baker JR, Bissett M, Freak-Poli R, et al. Australian link worker social prescribing programs: an integrative review. PLoS One, 2024, 19(11): e0309783.
31.	Mulligan K, Card KG, Allison S. Social prescribing in Canada: health promotion in action, 50 years after the Lalonde report. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can, 2024, 44(6): 241-243.
32.	The National Academy for Social Prescribing. 2025.
33.	Cooper M, Avery L, Scott J, et al. Effectiveness and active ingredients of social prescribing interventions targeting mental health: a systematic review. BMJ Open, 2022, 12(7): e060214.
34.	Barton J, Pretty J. What is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health. A multi-study analysis. Environ Sci Technol, 2010, 44(10): 3947-3955.
35.	Ingledew DK, Markland D. The role of motives in exercise participation. Psychol Health, 2008, 23(7): 807-828.
36.	Pescheny J, Randhawa G, Pappas Y. Patient uptake and adherence to social prescribing: a qualitative study. BJGP Open, 2018, 2(3): bjgpopen18X101598.
37.	Iverson T, Alfares H, Nijjar GS, et al. A rapid systematic review of the effect of health or peer volunteers for diabetes self-management: Synthesizing evidence to guide social prescribing. PLOS Glob Public Health, 2024, 4(12): e0004071.
38.	Moore C, Unwin P, Evans N, et al. Social prescribing: exploring general practitioners' and healthcare professionals' perceptions of, and engagement with, the NHS model. Health Soc Care Community, 2022, 30(6): e5176-e5185.
39.	Ashe MC, Dos Santos IK, Alfares H, et al. Outcomes and instruments used in social prescribing: a modified umbrella review. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can, 2024, 44(6): 244-269.
40.	Bickerdike L, Booth A, Wilson PM, et al. Social prescribing: less rhetoric and more reality. A systematic review of the evidence. BMJ Open, 2017, 7(4): e013384.
41.	中国政府网. 中共中央国务院印发《“健康中国2030”规划纲要》. 2025.
42.	中国政府网. 国家卫生健康委民政部国家医保局国家中医药局国家疾控局关于促进医养结合服务高质量发展的指导意见. 2025.
43.	付志强, 齐伟, 翁华, 等. 关于社会处方管理模式对社区老年人认知状况的干预效果及其社会支持影响因素的探索性研究. 老龄科学研究, 2022, 10(12): 24-33.
44.	从养老变“享老”!月坛街道“无围墙”服务精准化托起“家门口”的幸福晚年. 2025.
45.	张梦冉, 彭婧, 徐恒秋. 英国社区健康资源开发利用的社会处方及启示. 南京中医药大学学报(社会科学版), 2018, 19(4): 253-256.
46.	中国政府网. 国务院关于印发中医药发展战略规划纲要(2016-2030年)的通知. 2025.
47.	中国政府网. 中共中央国务院关于促进中医药传承创新发展的意见(2019年第31号国务院公报). 2019.
48.	Wang C, Wang Y, Wang X, et al. What is social prescribing – Could traditional Chinese medicine play a Role. Evidence-Based Chin Med Technol Assess, 2025, 1(1): 1.
49.	政府信息公开详情. 2025.
50.	1个家庭医生团队撬动120+健康粉丝, 看这个社区如何玩转“健康网格化”. 2025.

1. Determinants of Health. 2025.
2. Zhong J, Zhang Y, Zhu K, et al. Associations of social determinants of health with life expectancy and future health risks among individuals with type 2 diabetes: two nationwide cohort studies in the UK and USA. Lancet Healthy Longev, 2024, 5(8): e542-e551.
3. CDC. Social Determinants of Health. 2025.
4. A toolkit on how to implement social Prescribing. 2025.
5. Marmot M, Bell R, Goldblatt P. Action on the social determinants of health. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique, 2013, 61(Suppl 3): 127-132.
6. Angus C. Taking public health policy models upstream. Lancet Public Health, 2020, 5(3): e130.
7. Muhl C, Mulligan K, Bayoumi I, et al. Establishing internationally accepted conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing through expert consensus: a Delphi study. BMJ Open, 2023, 13(7): e070184.
8. Drinkwater C, Wildman J, Moffatt S. Social Prescribing. BMJ, 2019, 364: l1285.
9. Morse DF, Sandhu S, Mulligan K, et al. Global developments in social prescribing. BMJ Glob Health, 2022, 7(5): e008524.
10. Davis-Hall M. The Brimley by bow centre: harnessing the power of community. Br J Gen Pract, 2018, 68(672): 333.
11. Bromley by Bow Centre. About the Bromley by bow centre. 2025.
12. Policy Navigator. NHS Five Year Forward View. 2025.
13. England NHS. NHS England general practice forward view. 2025.
14. NHS Long Term Plan. About the NHS long term plan. 2025.
15. Evaluation of the Rotherham mental health social prescribing service 2015/16-2016/17. The Essence Project. 2025.
16. Santoni C, Chiva Giurca B, Li TM, et al. Evaluating student perceptions and awareness of social prescribing. Educ Prim Care, 2019, 30(6): 361-367.
17. Royal Voluntary Service Homepage. 2025.
18. Social activities. Royal Voluntary Service. 2025.
19. Esmene DS, Leyshon PC, Leyshon DM. Beyond adherence to social prescriptions: How places, social acquaintances and stories help walking group members to thrive. Health Place, 2020, 64: 102394.
20. Verma M, Punyani H, Kalra S. Social prescription in diabetes. JPMA, 2020, 70(3): 552-553.
21. Sharifian N, Zaheed AB, Morris EP, et al. Social network characteristics moderate associations between cortical thickness and cognitive functioning in older adults. Alzheimers Dement, 2022, 18(2): 339-347.
22. Thomson LJ, Lockyer B, Camic PM, et al. Effects of a museum-based social prescription intervention on quantitative measures of psychological wellbeing in older adults. Perspect Public Health, 2018, 138(1): 28-38.
23. Chopra RC, Chakrabarthi S, Narayan I, et al. Efficacy of community groups as a social prescription for senior health-insights from a natural experiment during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sci Rep, 2024, 14(1): 24579.
24. Paquet C, Whitehead J, Shah R, et al. Social prescription interventions addressing social isolation and loneliness in older adults: meta-review integrating on-the-ground resources. J Med Internet Res, 2023, 25: e40213.
25. Marx V, More KR. Developing scotland's first green health prescription pathway: a one-stop shop for nature-based intervention referrals. Front Psychol, 2022, 13: 817803.
26. Menhas R, Yang L, Danish Nisar R. Community-based social healthcare practices in China for healthy aging: a social prescription perspective analysis. Front Public Health, 2023, 11: 1252157.
27. Cooking Matters. 2025.
28. MUSICINMIND. 2025.
29. Scarpetti G, Shadowen H, Williams GA, et al. A comparison of social prescribing approaches across twelve high-income countries. Health Policy, 2024, 142: 104992.
30. Baker JR, Bissett M, Freak-Poli R, et al. Australian link worker social prescribing programs: an integrative review. PLoS One, 2024, 19(11): e0309783.
31. Mulligan K, Card KG, Allison S. Social prescribing in Canada: health promotion in action, 50 years after the Lalonde report. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can, 2024, 44(6): 241-243.
32. The National Academy for Social Prescribing. 2025.
33. Cooper M, Avery L, Scott J, et al. Effectiveness and active ingredients of social prescribing interventions targeting mental health: a systematic review. BMJ Open, 2022, 12(7): e060214.
34. Barton J, Pretty J. What is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health. A multi-study analysis. Environ Sci Technol, 2010, 44(10): 3947-3955.
35. Ingledew DK, Markland D. The role of motives in exercise participation. Psychol Health, 2008, 23(7): 807-828.
36. Pescheny J, Randhawa G, Pappas Y. Patient uptake and adherence to social prescribing: a qualitative study. BJGP Open, 2018, 2(3): bjgpopen18X101598.
37. Iverson T, Alfares H, Nijjar GS, et al. A rapid systematic review of the effect of health or peer volunteers for diabetes self-management: Synthesizing evidence to guide social prescribing. PLOS Glob Public Health, 2024, 4(12): e0004071.
38. Moore C, Unwin P, Evans N, et al. Social prescribing: exploring general practitioners' and healthcare professionals' perceptions of, and engagement with, the NHS model. Health Soc Care Community, 2022, 30(6): e5176-e5185.
39. Ashe MC, Dos Santos IK, Alfares H, et al. Outcomes and instruments used in social prescribing: a modified umbrella review. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can, 2024, 44(6): 244-269.
40. Bickerdike L, Booth A, Wilson PM, et al. Social prescribing: less rhetoric and more reality. A systematic review of the evidence. BMJ Open, 2017, 7(4): e013384.
41. 中国政府网. 中共中央国务院印发《“健康中国2030”规划纲要》. 2025.
42. 中国政府网. 国家卫生健康委民政部国家医保局国家中医药局国家疾控局关于促进医养结合服务高质量发展的指导意见. 2025.
43. 付志强, 齐伟, 翁华, 等. 关于社会处方管理模式对社区老年人认知状况的干预效果及其社会支持影响因素的探索性研究. 老龄科学研究, 2022, 10(12): 24-33.
44. 从养老变“享老”!月坛街道“无围墙”服务精准化托起“家门口”的幸福晚年. 2025.
45. 张梦冉, 彭婧, 徐恒秋. 英国社区健康资源开发利用的社会处方及启示. 南京中医药大学学报(社会科学版), 2018, 19(4): 253-256.
46. 中国政府网. 国务院关于印发中医药发展战略规划纲要(2016-2030年)的通知. 2025.
47. 中国政府网. 中共中央国务院关于促进中医药传承创新发展的意见(2019年第31号国务院公报). 2019.
48. Wang C, Wang Y, Wang X, et al. What is social prescribing – Could traditional Chinese medicine play a Role. Evidence-Based Chin Med Technol Assess, 2025, 1(1): 1.
49. 政府信息公开详情. 2025.
50. 1个家庭医生团队撬动120+健康粉丝, 看这个社区如何玩转“健康网格化”. 2025.

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