• Sinah Evers, Joyce Kenkre, Thomas Kloppe, Donata Kurpas, Juan M Mendive, Ferdinando Petrazzuoli, and Josep Vidal-Alaball.
• Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
• Eur J Gen Pract. 2024 Dec 1; 30 (1): 23518062351806.

BackgroundSocial prescribing (SP) is a patient pathway by which healthcare professionals connect patients with other sources of support, groups, or activities within their community. The awareness, practice, and perception of SP among GPs across Europe remains unclear.ObjectivesTo explore the awareness, practice, and perception of GPs on SP in the WONCA Europe region.MethodsAn anonymous, cross-sectional online survey was distributed through a snowballing system, mailing lists, and at three international conferences in 2022/2023 to explore GPs' awareness, practice, and perception of SP. The questionnaire in English contained 21 open and closed questions.ResultsOf the 208 participating GPs from 33 countries, 116 (56%) previously heard of 'social prescribing' and 66 (32%) regularly referred patients to community activities through a formal system. These 66 GPs reported different funding sources and varied activities, with an average of four activities and physical exercise being the most prevalent. Among them, 25 (38%) knew about national or local SP awareness campaigns. Of these 25, 17 (68%) agreed that SP increases their job satisfaction and 21 (84%) agreed that it has a positive impact on their patients. Variations in SP awareness and referral practice were evident across and within countries.ConclusionDespite disparities in awareness and referral practice as well as a diversity of activities and funding sources, most GPs who actively referred patients and were informed about SP campaigns agreed that SP positively impacts them and their patients.

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