Arts in social prescribing

Holt, Nicola; Vougioukalou, Sofia; Chatterjee, Helen

Abstract

Over the last few years there has been a huge impetus to deliver, evaluate and develop art on prescription and social prescribing programmes, with the hope that provision will improve the psychosocial wellbeing of participants and reduce the health burden, associated with social isolation and low wellbeing, on the NHS. In this chapter we provide an overview of arts on prescription practice and the evidence base for its efficacy, providing preliminary support for its impact on participant wellbeing. However, we note limitations with the evidence base, and a need to develop best practice. For example, there are challenges with reaching under-represented audiences and unanswered research questions (including, examining dosage effects and longitudinal impact). There is a continued need for high quality research that is theoretically driven, focusing on ‘what works for whom’, to improve delivery and optimise outcomes.

• Deposit Date: Mar 10, 2025
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Book Title: Routledge Handbook of Arts and Health
• Chapter Number: 22
• Keywords: Art on prescription, social prescribing, art on referral, arts and health, personalised care, culture on prescription
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13929343
• Contract Date: Mar 1, 2023