Social Prescribing and CEW clinics V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a model of social prescribing for children’s specialist Tier 3 weight management services
IRAS ID
334930
Contact name
Megan Garside
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Hallam University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
There are high numbers of children and young people (CYP) living with severe obesity in the UK, with significant impacts for their physical and mental health, as well as wider social and economic impacts. Twenty-one Tier 3 Complications of Excess Weight (CEW) clinics have been set up in England by NHS England to support CYP living with severe obesity.
Social prescribing involves healthcare professionals referring individuals to community-based services to provide additional support with their physical and mental health. It is increasingly implemented within UK services. Current research suggests it is an accessible way for CYP to access support, particularly for mental health, and can help increase rates of physical activity. This means it may be a helpful way to support the health and wellbeing of CYP living with severe obesity, who are accessing CEW clinics.
This study is being conducted as part of a PhD project which aims to explore how social prescribing can be integrated into national Tier 3 CEW clinics to support CYP living with severe obesity. This work follows a realist approach to explore how, in what ways and under what circumstances social prescribing may (or may not) work in CEW clinics to support the health and wellbeing of CYP.
The study will take place at one CEW clinic, based in South Yorkshire. It will include quantitative data collection with CYP accessing CEW clinics, including questionnaires at 2 time points; Time Point 1, and Time Point 2, 4 months later. Qualitative interviews with CYP, parents/carers, CEW staff and community-based service staff will be conducted to consider the perceived benefits and barriers to social prescribing and how to improve accessibility and engagement. Findings will be used to inform future implementation of social prescribing across CEW clinics.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/WM/0113
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jun 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion