Volunteering as a generative act and contribution to a good life in older age: support by general practice through social prescribing – a qualitative focus group study protocol in Germany
- 1Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
Abstract
Introduction: Loneliness and social isolation in older age are increasingly recognised as major public health concerns, associated with depression, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. Despite this recognition, primary care lacks systematic approaches to address the social determinants of health in ageing populations. Social prescribing (SP)—the structured referral of patients to non-clinical, community-based activities by primary care professionals—has been proposed as a promising response to this gap. While SP is well established in the UK and increasingly implemented internationally, it remains largely unexplored in the German healthcare context. This study examines how volunteering as a form of generativity contributes to health and a good life in older age, and how general practice can support this through SP.
Methods and analysis: A qualitative focus group design is employed, involving three participant populations: (1) current and former volunteers aged 60 and older, (2) younger adults unable to work due to chronic illness and (3) interprofessional groups of general practitioners, social workers and local association representatives. Recruitment is multimodal to ensure diversity of background and experience. All sessions are audio-recorded and analysed using qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz.
Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval has been granted by the Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center Göttingen (Ethics Approval No. 22/8/25). All participants will provide written informed consent prior to participation; data will be pseudonymised and processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and presented at national and international conferences in the fields of general practice and public health. A practice-oriented summary will be made available to participants and relevant stakeholders to support the translation of findings into primary care practice.
Trial registration number: DRKS00037936.
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BibTeX
@article{kleinert2026volunteering,
title = {{Volunteering as a generative act and contribution to a good life in older age: support by general practice through social prescribing – a qualitative focus group study protocol in Germany}},
author = {Evelyn Kleinert and Laura Mohacsi and Eva Hummers},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2026-126407},
url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-126407},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Volunteering as a generative act and contribution to a good life in older age: support by general practice through social prescribing – a qualitative focus group study protocol in Germany
AU - Evelyn Kleinert
AU - Laura Mohacsi
AU - Eva Hummers
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-126407
UR - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-126407
AB - Introduction: Loneliness and social isolation in older age are increasingly recognised as major public health concerns, associated with depression, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. Despite this recognition, primary care lacks systematic approaches to address the social determinants of health in ageing populations. Social prescribing (SP)—the structured referral of patients to non-clinical, community-based activities by primary care professionals—has been proposed as a promising response to this gap. While SP is well established in the UK and increasingly implemented internationally, it remains largely unexplored in the German healthcare context. This study examines how volunteering as a form of generativity contributes to health and a good life in older age, and how general practice can support this through SP. Methods and analysis: A qualitative focus group design is employed, involving three participant populations: (1) current and former volunteers aged 60 and older, (2) younger adults unable to work due to chronic illness and (3) interprofessional groups of general practitioners, social workers and local association representatives. Recruitment is multimodal to ensure diversity of background and experience. All sessions are audio-recorded and analysed using qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval has been granted by the Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center Göttingen (Ethics Approval No. 22/8/25). All participants will provide written informed consent prior to participation; data will be pseudonymised and processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and presented at national and international conferences in the fields of general practice and public health. A practice-oriented summary will be made available to participants and relevant stakeholders to support the translation of findings into primary care practice. Trial registration number: DRKS00037936.
SN - 2044-6055
SN - 2044-6055
ER -