The RECETAS project has published a protocol for a health economic evaluation of Nature-Based Social Prescribing (NBSP), conducted alongside randomized controlled trials in Barcelona, Prague, and Helsinki.

This evaluation assesses the cost-utility, cost-effectiveness, and cost-capability of NBSP compared to usual care. By ensuring transparency and reproducibility, the protocol enables evidence-based recommendations for NBSP implementation, supporting local decision-making and policy development.

Read the publication in BMC Public Health: Protocol for the health economic evaluation of nature-based social prescribing against loneliness alongside the RECETAS trials

Key Measurement Tools

The evaluation uses three primary tools to assess outcomes:

  • EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire: A standardized instrument measuring health-related quality of life across five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). This helps determine the value of NBSP in improving overall well-being.
  • De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale: A validated tool assessing emotional and social loneliness, allowing researchers to measure reductions in loneliness and calculate the cost per unit reduction achieved by NBSP.
  • ICECAP-A Questionnaire: A capability measure evaluating individuals’ ability to achieve well-being across five attributes (stability, attachment, achievement, enjoyment, and autonomy) to assess the cost per improvement in capability well-being, a broader measure of quality of life beyond health alone.

 

 

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