University Course Cultura e Salute 2025

Social Prescription:

How doctors are using culture, sports, nature, and community service as medicine

Julia Hotz is a solutions-focused journalist and award-winning author of THE CONNECTION CURE—the first book chronicling the science, stories, and spread of social prescribing. She helps other journalists report on evidence-backed ideas at the Solutions Journalism Network, and advises health organizations like Walk with a Doc and Social Prescribing USA. For her work on social prescribing, she has spoken at TEDx, taught in medical schools and practices, delivered keynote speeches, advised policymakers, and more.

An Introduction to Social Prescribing: Achieving Better Health through Less Healthcare

In this talk, Julia Hotz will present on the science, stories, and spread of social prescribing – a practice through which health workers refer patients to non-medical, community-based activities, like art classes and cycling lessons.  Hotz will explore how social prescriptions can both improve health – preventing and treating symptoms of depression, anxiety, chronic pain, dementia, loneliness, and more, and reduce pressure on health care -- lowering emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and costs.

• Chatterjee, H. J., Camic, P. M., Lockyer, B., & Thomson, L. J. M. (2017). Non-clinical community interventions: A systematised review of social prescribing schemes. Arts & Health, 10(2), 97–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2017.1334002
• O’Connell Francischetto, E., Bradly, J., & Knight, K. (2024). The impact of social prescribing on health service use and costs: Examples of local evaluations in practice. National Academy for Social Prescribing.
• Polley, M., Bertotti, M., Kimberlee, R., Pilkington, K., & Refsum, C. (2017). A review of the evidence assessing impact of social prescribing on healthcare demand and cost implications [Technical report]. University of Westminster.

Coordinator of the course and member of the Advisory Board of IBSA Foundation for scientific research. Over the last 15 years, he has worked extensively in the fields of art, culture and health with a wide range of scientific publications, seminars and university courses. Since 2012, he has been Scientific Director of the ‘Villa Santa Maria’ Foundation in Tavernerio (Como) and of the Institute of the same name, a home for children and adolescents suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders. He has authored more than 500 publications listed on Google Scholar and more than 200 listed on PubMed.

The response to the social factors of health is called social prescribing

If, as in-depth studies have found, social factors are more important than genetics in shaping our health, the concept of social prescribing takes on significant importance. This is because using pharmacological treatments to combat somatic symptoms connected with emerging social factors such as loneliness, stress, anxiety and depression presents notable limits and often produces unsatisfactory results.

The difficulty of treating Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS) creates high levels of dissatisfaction among general practitioners, also because even if patients with MUS present at check-ups complaining of physical symptoms, more than anything else what they seem to require is a sympathetic ear and emotional support. It is thought that around a fifth of patient consultations are connected with the non-clinical needs of these persons. Art and culture are therefore establishing themselves as new tools of wellbeing available to doctors.

Thanks to collaboration with third sector organisations and new professional figures, so-called link workers, it is possible to choose and apply the most fitting social activities - from the broad gamut available - to the personality and sensibilities of the patient, ranging on a case by case basis from structured physical activity to contact with nature, exposure to the arts, voluntary work, and the promotion of social inclusion. Concentrating on “what is most important for me?”, social prescribing operators therefore put together a personalised support and assistance programme and help the patient to take control of their health and wellbeing.

• Hotz, J. (2024). The connection cure: The prescriptive power of movement, nature, art, service, and belonging (First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition). Simon & Schuster.

Clinical Assistant Professor Mandy Zhang is a Consultant in Sport & Exercise Medicine (SEM) and serves as Director of the Singapore Sport & Exercise Medicine Centre at Changi General Hospital (SSMC@CGH). She holds postgraduate qualifications in both Family Medicine and Sports Medicine, and is a strong advocate for the integration of exercise prescription as a therapeutic intervention in the prevention and management of chronic diseases and musculoskeletal conditions.

She also serves as Deputy Director of Training and Education for Exercise is Medicine Singapore (EIMS), Chairperson of Performing Arts Medicine Singapore, and Director of Clinical Services for the Musculoskeletal Sciences Academic Clinical Programme (MSKSC ACP). 

Empowering Health Through Movement

Movement is medicine. This talk will discuss how tailored exercise plans can help people take control of their health safely. Special focus will be given to designing safe exercise routines for those with chronic illnesses to improve their health condition, and quality of life.

Beyond individual patients, we will explore innovative ways to promote movement in different settings, from brief bursts of vigorous activity called “Sprint Snacks” that help hospital staff build strength and improve resilience, to technology-driven dance programmes for elderly day care that encourage physical movement, mental stimulation, and social connection.

This session aims to inspire everyone to embrace movement as a key to better health.

• Wun, C. H., Zhang, M. J., Ho, B. H., McGeough, K., Tan, F., & Aziz, A. R. (2020). Efficacy of a six-week dispersed Wingate-cycle training protocol on peak aerobic power, leg strength, insulin sensitivity, blood lipids and quality of life in healthy adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(13), 4860. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134860
• Pedersen, B. K., & Saltin, B. (2015). Exercise as medicine—Evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 25(S3), 1–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12581
• Podolski, O. S., Whitfield, T., Schaaf, L., Cornaro, C., Köbe, T., Koch, S., & Wirth, M. (2023). The impact of dance movement interventions on psychological health in older adults without dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Sciences, 13(7), 981. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13070981

General practitioner based in the United Kingdom, with a particular interest in health coaching and person-centred care. Co-founder of a company, together with a colleague, that provides training in health coaching approaches. Currently serves as Clinical Director of a group of seven medical practices.

How movement restores confidence and wellbeing in primary care

I will share personal experience of support patients to become more physically active through health coaching and social prescribing schemes in the UK National Health Service. I will draw in experiences of establishing exercise support at practice level as well as leadership roles in creating the city wide Move More program in Sheffield.

• National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine Sheffield. (n.d.). Move More Sheffield. https://www.movemoresheffield.com/
• National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine – Sheffield. (n.d.). Home. https://www.ncsem.org.uk/sheffield/

Coordinator of the course and member of the Advisory Board of IBSA Foundation for scientific research. Over the last 15 years, he has worked extensively in the fields of art, culture and health with a wide range of scientific publications, seminars and university courses. Since 2012, he has been Scientific Director of the ‘Villa Santa Maria’ Foundation in Tavernerio (Como) and of the Institute of the same name, a home for children and adolescents suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders. He has authored more than 500 publications listed on Google Scholar and more than 200 listed on PubMed.

The health benefits of nature therapy

The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations underline the importance of green spaces in contributing to the prosperity and quality of life of all.

The World Health Organization has declared that urban green spaces (including parks, woods and sports facilities) are a necessary component for creating healthy, sustainable and fulfilling living conditions. The scientific proof to support these assertions takes the form of hundreds of studies carried out on over two million subjects, which show how contact with nature is associated with improvements in mental health and cognitive function, a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity, a reduction in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, and protection from neurodegenerative diseases and premature death.

“Nature therapy” comprises varies types of activities that can be managed with medical prescriptions (local community-based therapeutic horticulture activities, the conservation and planting of trees, organised walks in the woods, to name just a few), helping the elderly and the lonely in particular, but also children, to improve their memories, attention and ability to socialise.

• World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. (2016). Urban green spaces and health. WHO Regional Office for Europe.
• Yang, B.-Y., Zhao, T., Hu, L.-X., et al. (2021). Greenspace and human health: An umbrella review. The Innovation, 2(4), 100164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2021.100164
• Nguyen, P. Y., Astell-Burt, T., Rahimi-Ardabili, H., & Feng, X. (2023). Effect of nature prescriptions on cardiometabolic and mental health, and physical activity: A systematic review. The Lancet Planetary Health, 7(4), e313–e328. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00025-6
• Thomas, T., Aggar, C., Baker, J., Massey, D., Thomas, M., D’Appio, D., & Brymer, E. (2022). Social prescribing of nature therapy for adults with mental illness living in the community: A scoping review of peer-reviewed international evidence. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1041675. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1041675

Qing Li, MD, PhD, is a clinical professor at Nippon Medical School, President of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine, Director of the Forest Therapy Society, Vice-President and Secretary General of INFOM. Prof. Li is the world’s foremost expert in forest medicine.

He has received Society Award from the Japanese Society for Hygiene in Forest Medicine in 2022 and University Award from Nippon Medical School in Forest Medicine in 2011. His book: Shinrin-yoku has been translated into 26 languages. His book: Forest bathing was ranked in the bestseller list in the US in 2018.

From a feeling to a science-Effects of Forest Bathing/Shinrin-Yoku on human health

Humans have enjoyed forest environments for ages because of the quiet atmosphere, beautiful scenery, mild climate, pleasant aromas, and fresh, clean air.

Researchers in Japan have tried to find preventive effects against lifestyle-related diseases from forests and have proposed a new concept called “Shinrin-Yoku/Forest Bathing”. Shinrin-Yoku is translated into Forest Bathing in English.

Shinrin in Japanese means ‘forest’, and yoku means ‘bath’. So shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses. This is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Shinrin-yoku is like a bridge. By opening our senses, it bridges the gap between us and the natural world.

In Japan, since 2004, serial studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of forest environments (Forest Bathing/Shinrin-Yoku) on human health.

We have established a new medical science called Forest Medicine. The Forest Medicine is a new interdisciplinary science, belonging to the categories of alternative medicine, environmental medicine and preventive medicine, which studies the effects of Forest Bathing on human health. It has been reported that Forest Bathing has the following beneficial effects on human health:

• Forest Bathing increases human natural killer (NK) activity, number of NK cells, and the intracellular levels of anti-cancer proteins, suggesting a preventive effect on cancers.
• Forest Bathing reduces blood pressure and heart rate showing preventive effect on hypertension and heart diseases.
• Forest Bathing reduces stress hormones, such as urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline and salivary/serum cortisol contributing to stress management.
• Forest Bathing increases the activity of parasympathetic nerves and reduces the activity of sympathetic nerves to stabilize the balance of autonomic nervous system.
• Forest Bathing reduces the scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion, and increases the score for vigor, showing preventive effects on depression.
• Forest Bathing increases the levels of serotonin, oxytocin and insulin-like growth factor 1 in blood to show preventive effects on depression.
• Forest bathing improves sleep.
• Forest bathing may apply to rehabilitation medicine.
• Forest bathing reduces Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores to show preventive effects on depression.

• Li, Q., Gao, H., Zhang, W., Yang, B., Wang, J., & Chen, Q. (2025). Impacts of forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) in female participants with depression/depressive tendencies. Diseases, 13(4), 100. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/4/100
• Li, Q. (2025). Preventive effects of forest bathing/Shinrin-Yoku on cardiovascular diseases: A review of mechanistic evidence. Forests, 16, 310. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16020310
• Li, Q. (2022). Effects of forest environment (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing) on health promotion and disease prevention – The establishment of "Forest Medicine". Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 27, 43. https://doi.org/10.1265/ehpm.22-00160
• Li, Q. (2023). New concept of forest medicine. Forests, 14(5), 1024. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/1024

Dr. Jensen is Editor-in-Chief of the Nordic Journal of Arts, Culture and Health. She has published books, chapters, articles, and reports on the health benefits of arts and culture.

She has developed and teaches educational courses in arts and health. Her research is focused the on psychosocial effects of Arts on Prescription, population studies, and regional arts and health strategy development and implementation.

Healthier together: Arts on Prescription for mental health and wellbeing. Evidence and impact

Under the umbrella of social prescribing, Arts on Prescription (AoP) is an emerging approach that offers arts-based activities a non-clinical intervention. Drawing on a series of studies this presentation explores the effectiveness, implementation challenges, and societal value of AoP programmes.

Research highlights the significant psychosocial benefits of AoP for individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised findings from 25 international studies, confirming statistically significant improvements in wellbeing and identifying key mechanisms of change.

Critical reflections on AoP also shed light on systemic barriers inadequate referral structures and lack of continuing care pathways. This presentation will offer evidence-based insights into the design, implementation, and evaluation of AoP programmes, arguing for their broader adoption as part of integrated, person-centred healthcare strategies for mental health.

• Jensen, A., Halling, A., Pirouzifard, M., & Lindström, M. (2025). Arts on prescription intervention for primary healthcare patients with poor mental health or social isolation: A mixed-method study. BMC Primary Care. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02866-2
• Jensen, A., & Brorsson, A. (2025). Healthier together: How arts on prescription can promote psychosocial wellbeing – A qualitative study. BMC Primary Care, 26, 100. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02800-6
• Jensen, A., Holt, N., Honda, S., & Bungay, H. (2024). The impact of arts on prescription on individual health and wellbeing: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1412306. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1412306

Having a background in heritage interpretation and museum work since 2008, Inga currently leads the Museums on Prescription programme in Cēsis Municipality (Latvia). Inga has been involved in several international projects addressing the cultural sector’s impact on sustainable development, including health and well-being. She takes part in the European Commission’s Open Method of Coordination group on Culture and Health.

Arts on Prescription. The Baltic Model

From 2023 to 2025, 13 partners from countries around the Baltic Sea joined forces to adapt the successful and globally recognized UK-born Social Prescribing model to this region. Supported by Interreg, the project focused on one part of Social Prescribing – Arts on Prescription (AoP).

The aim was to tailor and test the model, and to develop a Guide based on this experience for policy makers, AoP project managers, link workers, and facilitators of the AoP activities. Inga Surgunte represented Cēsis Municipality in Latvia and led a team that actively contributed to the adaptation, testing, and Guide creation.

In her presentation, Inga will share the project results, highlighting the Cēsis pilot initiative “Museums on Prescription,” which established cooperation between local 

• National Academy for Social Prescribing. (2024). Social prescribing around the world. National Academy for Social Prescribing. https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/media/thtjrirn/social-prescribing-around-the-world-2024.pdf
• Fancourt, D., & Finn, S. (2019). What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. https://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/what-is-the-evidence-on-the-role-of-the-arts-in-improving-health-and-well-being-a-scoping-review-2019
• Zbranca, R., Dâmaso, M., Blaga, O., Kiss, K., Dascăl, M. D., Yakobson, D., & Pop, O. (2022). CultureForHealth Report: Culture’s contribution to health and well-being. A report on evidence and policy recommendations for Europe. CultureForHealth / Culture Action Europe. https://www.cultureforhealth.eu/app/uploads/2023/02/Final_C4H_FullReport_small.pdf
• Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region. (n.d.). Arts on Prescription Guide [Interreg project 2023–2025]. https://aop.ndphs.org/

Bev Taylor led social prescribing for NHS England between 2015-2019, working with senior leaders to embed universal social prescribing in the 2018 cross-government loneliness strategy and NHS Long Term Plan. This £450 million investment funded 4000+ social prescribing link workers; delivering 2 million social prescriptions by 2024.

In 2020 Bev was seconded to set up the National Academy for Social Prescribing, where she brought agencies together to co-fund a Thriving Communities programme. Since 2023, Bev has worked freelance, supporting Manchester Camerata to become the first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia across the UK. Bev chairs a Power of Music Learning Network for 100+ music and dementia projects, building a powerful movement to embed music care into dementia care pathways. 

How a systems approach to social prescribing can enable people to have more control over their lives and create a powerful movement for change

Bev Taylor will outline how social prescribing enables people to get involved in community activities and have more power and control over their lives. This presentation will outline how we can invest in local communities, support young people to build resilience, enable everyone with a long-term condition to live well and develop volunteer citizen roles, to increase community cohesion and protect democracy. Practical examples will demonstrate how local communities can work alongside social prescribing link workers, including at Manchester Camerata, where 20 Music Cafes have been co-created for people living with dementia and their carers’, training volunteer citizens to become Music Champions. 

Social prescribing reduces pressure on clinicians. Compelling evidence will be presented demonstrating real outcomes for health agencies. Bev will explain how she developed regional social prescribing networks and took a systems approach to embedding social prescribing across the English National Health Service, collaborating with senior clinicians, ministers and innovative leaders to secure commitment to universal social prescribing within the cross-government loneliness strategy and NHS Long Term Plan. This delivered 2 million social prescriptions by 2024, with 4000+ social prescribing link workers supporting vulnerable people during COVID. 

Shaping the 5 year national primary care contract, co-creating NHS social prescribing guidance and learning programmes for link workers were vital ingredients for change, including an online community of practice, core competency modules, Regional Learning Coordinators to facilitate peer support and webinars for link workers.

• HM Government. (2018, 15 ottobre). A connected society: A strategy for tackling loneliness – laying the foundations for change. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-connected-society-a-strategy-for-tackling-loneliness 
• NHS England. (2019, 7 gennaio; aggiornato 21 agosto 2019). The NHS Long Term Plan.  https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-long-term-plan/  
• NHS England. (2019). A five-year framework for GP contract reform to implement The NHS Long Term Plan [Guidance]. NHS England.
• NHS England. (2020, giugno). Social prescribing and community-based support: Summary guide. https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/social-prescribing-and-community-based-support-summary-guide/
• Health Education England & NHS England. (s.d.). Social Prescribing [Corso online]. e-learning for healthcare.
• National Academy for Social Prescribing. (2025). The National Academy for Social Prescribing | NASP. https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/
• National Academy for Social Prescribing. (2025). Celebrating the Thriving Communities programme. https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/the-thriving-communities-programme/

Stephen G. Post is a prominent research scholar on altruism, compassion and health. He is Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care & Bioethics at Stony Brook University School of Medicine. He is the author of 400 + articles in journals including The New England Journal of Medicine. Best-selling author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People. Post is described by Martin Seligman as one of “the stars of positive psychology.” Sir John Templeton selected him as Founding President of The Institute for Research on Unlimited Love.

Why Social Prescribing Contributes to Healing and Health: A Biological, Evolutionary, and Ethical Perspective   

Post will discuss the relationship between altruism, kindness, compassion, well-being, and health, drawing on positive psychology, health outcomes, and various areas of medical care and recovery.

• Post S. G. (2025). Pure unlimited love: Science and the seven paths to inner peace (Foreword by the Dalai Lama). New York: Morehouse Publishers.
• Post S. G. & Neimark J. (2007). Why good things happen to good people: How the simple act of giving can bring you a longer, happier, healthier life (Foreword by Rev. Otis Moss, Jr.). New York: Broadway Books/Random House.
• 3Hake A. B. & Post S. G. (2023). Kindness: Definitions and a pilot study for the development of a kindness scale in healthcare. PLOS ONE, 18(7), e0288766. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288766

Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD is a professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Social Connection & Health Lab at Brigham Young University. She is also the founding scientific chair and board member for the U.S. Foundation for Social Connection and the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection. Her research focuses on the individual and population health effects, biological mechanisms, and effective strategies to mitigate risk and promote protection associated with social connection. 

She has given a TED Talk and given expert advice and testimony internationally to many organizations including being the lead scientific editor for a US Surgeon General’s Advisory and Framework for a National Strategy.

The underappreciated prescription: The Science of Social Connection in Health and Healing

Belonging isn’t just about it’s essential to our health. This talk will highlight the science behind why social connection is not only a fundamental human need, but also a vital component of health needed to be integrated within health systems and social prescribing strategies. Drawing on decades of scientific evidence that informed the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory and the World Health Organization, I’ll present robust evidence of the medical and health relevance of social connection demonstrated through three key pillars: structure, function, and quality. These pillars offer a practical way to assess and support social health. I’ll also present evidence to suggest these pillars are eroding and what we can do to strengthen them. Social connection is not just about our quality of life,  but also a critical element to promoting healing and well-being.

• S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The US Surgeon General’s Advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. Washington, DC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37792968/
• Holt-Lunstad, J. (2025). Social connection or loneliness? How we frame the issue may significantly impact public policy. Health Psychology, 44(5), 560–562. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001433
• Holt-Lunstad, J., Cudjoe, T. K. M., Dumitriu, D., Ellison, N. B., Kotwal, A. A., Pantell, M. S., Perissinotto, C. M., & Smith, M. L. (2025). The need for scientific leadership and collaboration to enhance social connection: A call to action. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1548(1), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.15343
• Sun, Y., Huang, H., Cai, G., Gu, J., Leung, G. K. L., Gao, Y., Wong, S. Y. S., Wong, E. L. Y., Mak, W. W. S., Kwok, T., & Mo, P. K. H. (2025). Interventions to reduce loneliness among community-dwelling older adults: A network meta-analysis and systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 26(3), 105441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2024.10544

Cristiano Figueiredo is a Family Doctor at the Baixa's Family Health Unit, São José Local Health Unit in Lisbon. He is the co-founder and co-coordinator of the first Social Prescribing Project in Portugal.
He is a Lecturer at the NOVA National School of Public Health, NOVA University Lisbon, and a PhD candidate in Public Health, specializing in Health Promotion.

Cristiano is also the co-founder and co-coordinator of the Social Prescribing Portugal Network and co-author of scientific papers, courses, and other literature on social prescribing.

Social Prescribing DIY – a first person testimonial on implementing social prescribing in Portugal

I was a young family doctor in downtown Lisbon when I started the local journey of introducing social prescribing (SP) to Portugal. First, I needed to advocate for the importance of social determinants of health (SDOH) in influencing the health outcomes of our patients.

Secondly, my team needed to map existing community assets and support the development of new community-based solutions enabling primary health care (PHC) to address the SDOH. Thirdly, we invited academia to assess the bridging power of SP and generate new knowledge to guide the future. Soon, we were changing the clinical pathways of patients, adding new upstream person-centred interventions based in the community to the usual healthcare, addressing the root causes of disease, such as loneliness, migration stress, or poverty.

Today, SP is a national movement with dozens of initiatives in Portugal, which proves that to start a healthcare revolution, you only need to take the first step and lead the change in your community.

• Dias, S., Hoffmeister, L. V., Figueiredo, C., & Gama, A. (2024). Social prescribing in the Portuguese context: Challenges and strategies to implement and evaluate a complex intervention. In M. Bertotti (Ed.), Social prescribing policy, research and practice: Transforming systems and communities for improved health and wellbeing (pp. 85–99). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52106-5_6
• Hoffmeister, L. V., Gama, A., Gonçalves, B., Figueiredo, C., Cordeiro, J. V., Polley, M., de Moura, G. S., & Dias, S. (2024). Implementing a social prescribing program in primary care units in Portugal: A qualitative study exploring enablers, barriers and lessons learned from the perspectives of stakeholders involved in the program implementation. PLOS ONE, 19(6), Article e0306404. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306404
• Dias, S., Hoffmeister, L., Figueiredo, C., Coelho, A., Marques, M. J., Canas, A. M., Pedro, A. R., & Gama, A. (2024). Prescrição social: Manual de apoio à implementação de iniciativas. Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa.

Dr Jess Bone is a Senior Research Fellow in the Social Biobehavioural Research Group at University College London. Her research uses a range of longitudinal data sources to investigate the role of social assets and social deficits in mental health and wellbeing. She holds an NIHR Advanced Fellowship focussed on exploring whether community activities could be used to prevent youth anxiety and depression. Dr Bone received her PhD from the Division of Psychiatry at UCL. 

Can social prescribing work at the national level? Evidence on adoption, effectiveness, and inequalities from the UK

In 2019, the UK government announced a radical, major investment in social prescribing. Since then, an estimated 3 million people in the UK have received social prescribing and the approach has spread to over 30 countries. But there has been controversy about whether social prescribing can genuinely address health needs or might instead only research certain groups, exacerbating health inequalities.

This talk will outline the UK’s approach to implementing social prescribing, various funding models, and the evidence base supporting these policies. It will also discuss the substantial body of evidence produced by UCL's Social Biobehavioural Research Group on access to, and the effectiveness of, social prescribing. This will include findings from analyses of electronic health records, cohort studies, and clinical trials in young people, working age adults, and older adults. 

• Bu, F., Hayes, D., Burton, A., & Fancourt, D. (2025). Equal, equitable or exacerbating inequalities: Patterns and predictors of social prescribing referrals in 160,128 UK patients. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 226(2), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2024.141
• Hayes, D., Burton, A., Bu, F., Humphrey, N., Qualter, P., Han, E., & Fancourt, D. (2025). INcreasing Adolescent social and Community supporT (INACT): Pilot study protocol. PLOS ONE, 20(3), e0317823. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317823
• Fancourt, D., Bone, J. K., Bu, F., Mak, H. W., & Bradbury, A. (2023). The impact of arts and cultural engagement on population health: Findings from major cohort studies in the UK and USA 2017–2022. University College London. https://sbbresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Arts-and-population-health-FINAL-March-2023.pdf

Luca Gabutti is the Director of the Institute of Family Medicine at USI and Head of the Family Medicine Service at the Regional Hospital of Lugano, Ospedale Italiano site, which is part of the Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC); the network of public hospitals in Italian-speaking Switzerland (https://www.eoc.ch).
Since 2017, he has been full professor at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of the Università della Svizzera italiana USI; the university of the Italian speaking part of Switzerland (https://www.biomed.usi.ch/en).
He obtained the MD degree at the University of Bern in 1996 and the PD and the Professorship at the University of Lausanne in 2006 and 2012. The specialties in Internal medicine and nephrology were obtained in 1997 and 1999 respectively.
After having taken care of a dialysis unit and a nephrological outpatient clinic at the Regional Hospital in Locarno, he reoriented himself toward Internal Medicine becoming the head of the Internal Medicine department in the same hospital and later moving to Bellinzona in 2016 to continue in the same role, and finally took on the responsibility of Family Medicine in 2024.
Initially captivated by electrolyte disorders, he began his research in this area and later expanded his interests to include cardiovascular risk factors, hypertension, vascular stiffness, hospital data networking, and the quality and appropriateness of care (https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=6603720688).
As Vice Dean for Education, he represents USI on the Federal Commission for Human Medicine Examinations and serves as Chair of USI’s Study and Examination Committees.

Arts and culture on prescription. The impact of cultural prescription on the health of the elderly population living in the Lugano municipality – A pilot project

At the training events in this and previous cycles devoted to Culture and Health, the impact of arts and cultural activities on well-being and health was explored in detail. The courses had both a training and empowerment objective; namely, the ultimate goal of making everyone more capable of responding consciously to the needs of their own mind-body dynamic. The next stage is that of practice, both through individual and group initiatives and through experimentation.

Experimentation that is being carried out in the Lugano area with the support of IBSA foundation, the Cultural Division of the City of Lugano, LAC and the Institute of Family Medicine, and which in turn not only has the ambition to deepen knowledge on the topic, but also wants to strengthen the determination and competence of citizens, social workers and healthcare providers. Presenting the ongoing clinical study will thus be one more opportunity to bring education closer to experience.

• Brandling, J., & House, W. (2009). Social prescribing in general practice: Adding meaning to medicine. British Journal of General Practice, 59(563), 454–456. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp09X421085  
• Chatterjee, H. J., Camic, P. M., Lockyer, B., & Thomson, L. J. M. (2018). Non-clinical community interventions: A systematised review of social prescribing schemes. Arts & Health, 10(2), 97–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2017.1334002  
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). A toolkit on how to implement social prescribing. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789290619765