SPLENDID Feasibility Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SPLENDID Feasibility Study: A cluster randomised implementation feasibility study of social prescribing for people living with dementia in the community.
IRAS ID
344393
Contact name
Jane Cross
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
The study is looking at how we can improve access to social prescribing and how it can support people living with dementia. Social prescribing is a free service that connects people to local activities, groups, and support. Evidence suggests that social prescribing may be important post-diagnosis support for people living with dementia and promote social engagement, reduce loneliness, and enhance overall well-being.
This initial (feasibility) study will help us decide whether to run a larger study in future. As part of the study, we have designed training to help ‘social prescribers’ or ‘link workers’ better support people living with dementia. We aim to recruit 10 GP practices, each with a social prescribing link worker. To see if our training supports people living with dementia we need to compare it with usual care. To do this, we will provide training to half of the GP practices in the study. Which GP practice receives the training is chosen at random by a computer. All GP practices taking part are important so we can test if the training works.
Eligible people living with dementia at GP practices in the 'intervention' group, where the social prescribing link workers are offered the dementia specific training, will be invited to receive SPLENDID social prescribing for 12-weeks. People living with dementia at GP practices in the control group will continue to receive usual care. We will recruit 70 people living with dementia (and their carer/family member/friend) across all the practices to answer a questionnaire at the beginning of the study and 14-weeks later. Patient records will be used to find people who are eligible and may be invited by healthcare professionals at appointments. The study will also explore healthcare staffs’ and person living with dementia's experience of social prescribing.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0371
Date of REC Opinion
20 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion