Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Expert Patient Programmes are well recognised interventions to help individuals with long term conditions improve their quality of life. Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology measures the social value created by interventions.

OBJECTIVES:

To use the SROI methodology to evaluate the social impact of an EPP programme for Substance and Alcohol Misuse (SAM) in a UK region.

METHODS:

Course participants and other Stakeholders created a ‘Theory of Change’ map of desired outcomes and derived a questionnaire to evaluate the actual outcomes observed as a result of the programme. Indicators of change for these outcomes were assigned monetary values which were then adjusted with participant input to account for external influences. The total impact (monetary value) of all social outcomes was then calculated and divided by the cost of the programme to derive an SROI ratio. This was subjected to a sensitivity analysis varying key assumptions.

RESULTS:

The most important direct outcome was increase in confidence. Important indicators of change were: improved relationships, volunteer work and educational and employment opportunities taken. 25% of course participants (n=18) completed the questionnaire. The social return was calculated to be £212,255 and total investment required was £35,856. Therefore the social return on investment ratio was: 6.09.  This ratio appeared robust in sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

For every £1 spent on these EPP programmes in the Wirral, £6.09 of social return is created in addition to the health benefits for participants. The SROI methodology, by assigning monetary value to more intangible outcomes, may be a useful way of assessing the broader value of healthcare interventions.