Rahena Mossabir|Rebecca Morris|Anne Kennedy|Christian Blickem|Anne Rogers
A scoping review to understand the effectiveness of<i>linking schemes</i>from healthcare providers to community resources to improve the health and well-being of people with long-term conditions
Manchester Academic Health Science Centre|University of Manchester|Manchester Academic Health Science Centre|University of Manchester|University of Southampton|University of Manchester|University of Southampton
prevalence people living longterm conditions increasing accompanied increased expectation patients become involved selfmanagement longterm conditions associated increased social isolation poor physical mental health remains gap health provision providing medical treatment effectively addressing psychosocial wellbeing one potential way addressing gap utilising social interventions link patients health services communitybased sources support however mechanisms involved delivery interventions providing link effectiveness remain unclear review adopted methodological framework conducting scoping studies searching academic grey literature social interventions link people healthcare settings range community voluntary sector organisations literature search may june 2013 involving five electronic databases hand searching two journals use google search engine identified seven studies relevant review question terms key characteristics mechanisms interventions mental health conditions social isolation common reasons referral interventions referrals usually made general practices almost interventions facilitatorled whereby facilitator worked identify link participants appropriate communitybased resources regard health social outcomes costeffectiveness studies reported improvement participants psychological social wellbeing well decreased use health services although limited measures participants physical health outcomes interventions linking patients healthcare setting communitybased resources target address psychosocial needs participants review identified involvement health professionals aiding referral patients intervention role intervention facilitators key components interventions