"Culture on Prescription" is a program that allows primary care patients to participate in cultural activities as part of their care. Region Skåne is currently testing and evaluating the program in Malmö. The question is how "Culture on Prescription" can be adopted by more municipalities and, in the long term, used as a healthcare initiative.
Culture on Prescription (KuR) is a program in which primary care patients participate in cultural activities twice a week for ten weeks, for about two hours each session. It began in Malmö as a pilot project in 2020 within the primary care system and is now a research project that will run until the summer of 2024.
Adult patients with mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and mild to moderate depression, as well as individuals at risk of social isolation or loneliness, are eligible to participate in Culture on Prescription. Culture on Prescription falls under the umbrella of social referrals, which allows primary care providers to refer people to activities outside the healthcare system. Social referrals aim to address the individual’s needs in a holistic manner.
A range of activities are offered and organized as part of the program in Malmö. Malmö Museum and Malmö Art Museum organize tours and hands-on workshops; Malmö City Archives leads city walks; at Malmö Opera and Malmö Live, participants can listen to music and take part in various musical activities; Kollaborativet offers performing arts experiences; Malmö City Library hosts shared reading sessions where participants read together; and Malmö Konsthall and Form/Design Center provide guided tours of exhibitions and workshops.
Motivation and well-being are enhanced, as are social relationships
Halfway through the research project, the results of "Culture on Prescription" show a positive impact on the participants.
“Our research shows that participants’ motivation, well-being, and positive self-esteem are enhanced, as are their social relationships and sense of belonging to the community,” says Anita Jensen, culture and health strategist at the Primary Care Competence Center, which is leading the research project within Region Skåne.
More tools are needed in healthcare
Several stakeholders involved in "Culture on Prescription" highlight the need for more tools within the healthcare system to address mental health issues.
“There is a large influx of patients with mental health issues into the healthcare system. One risk is that the healthcare system will treat an unnecessarily large number of patients medically, thereby unnecessarily pathologizing normal feelings and reactions. The healthcare system needs more tools, and ‘Culture on Prescription’ is a good complement to this,” says Sofia Carlin, licensed psychologist and specialist in clinical psychology.
“One of the things we need to do for patients with mental health issues—which is what KuR does—is to help them develop new behaviors and routines. These routines and activities need to be non-judgmental, social, and meaningful,” says Sofia Carlin.
Participants take a step forward through new connections and interests
Yvonne Lindberg, a licensed social worker and rehabilitation coordinator at Viktoria Vård & Hälsa, also sees a need for additional tools to use when interacting with patients.
– We needed a tool that would help patients take a step outside the health center. For some patients, we were otherwise the only ones who saw them. We see that KuR participants have made new connections and developed new interests. They’ve rediscovered a sense of joy and enthusiasm. Their need for contact with healthcare providers has decreased. It became a step forward where patients find themselves in a new context and break out of their social isolation,” says Yvonne Lindberg.
Collaboration among stakeholders is needed
Lisa Flinth (L), chair of the Primary Care Committee, Region Skåne, says that primary care should become the hub of the healthcare system.
– We must address mild and moderate mental health issues. To do this, we need more tools to see the whole person, and we need to collaborate with more stakeholders, especially civil society. Collaboration cannot be achieved through a shortcut; what is required is that we sit down and talk to one another. Then we will gain insight into where the healthcare system can turn for help. Then culture can become a tool, she says.
Marcus Laurin is the project manager for "Culture on Prescription" in the municipalities of Eslöv, Hörby, and Höör.
“One important thing to keep in mind when creating a KuR program is to make it accessible. It should be based on voluntary participation, the activities should be located close to where the participants live, and the program should give participants the opportunity to discover local cultural and community life,” he says.
Facts about "Culture on Prescription" in Malmö:
The research project on Culture on Prescription in Region Skåne will continue until the summer of 2024. Fifteen healthcare facilities and nine cultural organizations are currently participating, and so far, 63 patients have completed the program. The hope is to reach over 100 participants by the end of the project in June 2024. The median age is currently 58 years and the average age is 57 years; the youngest participant is 25 years old and the oldest is 81 years old.
On April 25, a midterm seminar was held on the KuR research project, in which Forum for Social Innovation Sweden participated.
Learn more about KuR in Malmö: