Ministry of Loneliness in England is implementing social prescribing to tackle increasing loneliness nationwide. Also, a social prescribing pilot study was completed in Ontario, Canada. A university in South Korea developed social prescribing scheme targeting lonely elderly population (age>65) in a rural area. We aimed to compare and analyze similarities and differences of social prescribing in Heung-up, South Korea and Ontario, Canada by seven dimensions using capacity mapping tool.
The result of study is as following. First, social prescribing developed by a university in South Korea remains non-public scheme; whereas, Canadian case is state-wide scheme implemented by community health centers. Second, both cases selected compounded prescriptions making it difficult to determine which program is responsible for which result. Third, both countries utilized experienced ‘social prescribee’ to facilitate the ongoing and future social prescribing program. In Korea, the prescribees were called ‘hunjang’, which means village teacher; in Canada, a very similar system was established as ‘health champion’. Fourth, psychological and social interaction indexes (loneliness, depression, social connectivity, self-efficacy, and etc.) were improved as the outcome of social prescribing in both countries. Fifth, Canada used various communication tools including a webpage with continuous updates while Korea used the news as main communication tool. Sixth, Korea raised funds by producing and selling hand-made COVID-19 masks and dolls; and vegetables and fruits from community farming facility. Seventh, both countries considered preventive measures for COVID-19 preparedness by social distancing, sterilization, and conducting untact social prescribing.
In conclusion, both South Korean and Canadian cases presented strengths and challenges for the social prescribing scheme. To institutionalize and develop the social prescribing city or province-wide scheme, South Korea may learn from Canadian large-scale intervention. Also, the leadership of MOH(Ministry of Health) and NHIC(National Health Insurance Corporation) is important to mobilize existing community resources and to propel the social prescribing scheme by cooperating with the medical sector.