Assessment of patients’ profiles and factors associated with uptake in social prescribing in Portugal

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are shaped by modifiable and nonmodifiable factors. Addressing them requires multisectoral strategies that complement clinical care. Social prescribing (SP) enables health professionals to identify health needs that might benefit from community supports and refer patients to services that promote well-being. This study examined the characteristics of patients referred to an SP programme in Lisbon, Portugal, and factors associated with uptake. We conducted a cross-sectional study including all referrals to two Family Health Units from September 2018 to December 2022, using referral forms and electronic health records. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors linked to uptake, defined as attending at least one SP appointment. Of 1022 referrals, 55.1% resulted in uptake. Compared with patients aged 0–25 years, uptake was more likely among those aged 51–75 years (OR 1.65; 95% CI 0.99–2.75) and those aged > 75 years (OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.42–3.46). Referrals for social or financial reasons (vs. no referred for this reason) (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.12–1.92), having one chronic disease (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.13–2.48) or two to three chronic diseases (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.05–2.29) (vs. no chronic condition), and referrals during the COVID-19 period (vs. prepandemic) (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.12–1.93) were also associated with uptake. Identifying which patients are more likely to engage can inform targeted outreach to improve participation and ensure the sustainability of SP initiatives.