Social connection: An exploration of screening methods in primary care

ABSTRACT

Research has found a correlation between a lack of social links and greater prevalence of mental health issues, indicating that social connection is a key determinant in both physical and mental health outcomes. Social isolation has been related to loneliness, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and other major health problems. Urban lifestyles, technology advancements, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all contributed to this problem. In order to address related physical and mental health issues, healthcare professionals must have a thorough understanding of the prevalence of social connection impairments as well as how to identify and treat them. This study surveyed primary care physicians on their approach to evaluating social connection in patients and identified potential barriers to gathering this information. The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and beliefs of primary care physicians in the United States towards the impact of social connection on the health of their patients and the extent to which they screen and assess for social connection. Surveys were collected from 208 licensed primary care physicians. Results showed the majority of participants agreed that addressing a patient's social connection is as important as addressing their medical needs and that they feel comfortable asking about a patient's current social connection. However, fewer participants reported being well informed about self-report tools or using validated measures to screen for social connection in their practice. These results suggest that there may be a need for more resources to help primary care physicians incorporate screening for social connection into their practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)