26isfam109 10.3205/26isfam109 urn:nbn:de:0183-26isfam1093 Meeting Abstract Claudino Claudino Patrícia P

Intermunicipal Community of Alentejo Central (CIMAC) & Local Health Unit of Alentejo Central (ULSAC)

author Pedro Pedro Ana Rita AR

NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

author Hoffmeister Hoffmeister Louise L

NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

author Pires Pires Joana J

NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

author Gama Gama Ana A

NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

author Figueiredo Figueiredo Cristiano C

NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

author Dias Dias Sónia S

NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

author German Medical Science GMS Publishing House

Düsseldorf

610 20260612 engl This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). M0652 109 International Society for Arts and Medicine The Healing Arts – Forging Alliances of Arts & Medicine Presentation Abstracts Berlin 20260618 20260620 26isfam109 TextBackground: Culture on Prescription (CoP) initiatives have been identified as a potentially effective, community-based approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing. Nevertheless, disparities in access and retention persist, particularly among individuals confronted with socioeconomic or geographic disadvantages.Objectives: The present study investigates the barriers and facilitators that shape equitable participation and retention in the CoP programme implemented in Alentejo Central. The study examines how demographic, contextual, and institutional factors influence continuity.Methods: The qualitative arm of the mixed-methods design comprised semi-structured interviews with CoP participants and focus groups with healthcare professionals, link workers and cultural facilitators. The transcripts were coded in MAXQDA following a deductive-inductive thematic procedure informed by the RADIANCE framework. The credibility of the research was established through triangulation and member checking.Results/Insights: Facilitators of equitable engagement included relational trust, culturally relevant artistic offerings, flexible scheduling, and supportive guidance from link workers. The primary barriers identified included transport and mobility constraints in rural areas, socioeconomic vulnerability, administrative fragmentation, stigma surrounding mental health, and unequal visibility of referral pathways. Equity was found to be associated with both the existence of opportunities and the implementation of targeted inclusion strategies, which involved actively reaching underserved populations.Conclusion/Implications: Achieving fairness in CoP participation necessitates structural attention to organisational design, resource distribution, and governance mechanisms. The findings support the advancement of equity-sensitive cultural prescribing models, the strengthening of cross-sector collaboration, and the informing of policy strategies that embed culture as an accessible, non-stigmatising public health resource. 0 0 0 0