Addressing unmet social needs using a health navigator for patients at a major metropolitan hospital in Australia: a mixed-methods feasibility study

Abstract

Introduction Integrating health and social care to address unmet social needs is an emerging priority for health systems worldwide. Screening and referral interventions for unmet social needs in healthcare settings have shown promising results. Most screening and referral interventions are implemented in primary care, despite evidence that disadvantaged populations face substantial barriers to accessing such care. There are few social care interventions in hospital settings. To address this gap, we designed a hospital-based intervention screening an outpatient population for unmet social needs and using a Health Navigator to provide referrals and follow-up to appropriate community and government resources. Here we present a protocol for a feasibility and acceptability study of a hospital-based Health Navigator intervention.