Social Needs Screening Tools for Clinical Populations in Australia and New Zealand: A Scoping Review and Critical Analysis

Isabelle Weld-Blundell; Yvonne C. Learmonth; Marlena Klaic; Jodi Haartsen; Darshini Ayton; Anne Kavanagh; Megan R. Hawkins; Claudia H. Marck

doi:10.1111/hex.70626

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Social Needs Screening Tools for Clinical Populations in Australia and New Zealand: A Scoping Review and Critical Analysis

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Social Needs Screening Tools for Clinical Populations in Australia and New Zealand: A Scoping Review and Critical Analysis

Isabelle Weld-Blundell, Yvonne C. Learmonth, Marlena Klaic, Jodi Haartsen, Darshini Ayton, Anne Kavanagh, Megan R. Hawkins and Claudia H. Marck

Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, Vol.29(2), e70626

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70626

PMID: 41744168

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Abstract

Review

Background Social determinants of health account for approximately 50% of health outcomes, yet social needs are rarely assessed as part of routine clinical care. We aimed to conduct a scoping review of screening tools for assessing social needs within clinical practice in Australia and New Zealand. Methods This scoping review was conducted according to our preregistered protocol (https://osf.io/d6evu). We searched scientific and grey literature for Australian or New Zealand studies that developed and/or evaluated social needs screening tools for adult patients. Extracted data included tool characteristics, validity, comprehensiveness, and proposed interventions. Actionability, that is, detailed specification of behaviour, was assessed using the Action, Actor, Context, Target and Time framework. Results Eight studies were included, describing five Australian screening tools (none from New Zealand), with varied characteristics and validity measures. Tools frequently screened for employment, economic stability, housing, support systems, and social and community context. Two tools covered all social need domains, and one provided detailed behavioural specifications. However, none outlined referral pathways for identified needs. Conclusions We identified five social needs screening tools. Most lacked comprehensiveness and actionability, and none integrated referral pathways. While these tools may represent a first step in identifying social needs in clinical care, addressing these gaps is essential for meaningful impact. Patient or Public Contribution Our research team comprised people living with chronic health conditions, clinicians, researchers, and social epidemiologists who all contributed to study design, conduct and interpretation of data.

Details

Title: Social Needs Screening Tools for Clinical Populations in Australia and New Zealand: A Scoping Review and Critical Analysis
Authors/Creators: Isabelle Weld-Blundell - The University of Melbourne
Yvonne C. Learmonth - Murdoch University
Marlena Klaic - The University of Melbourne
Jodi Haartsen - Monash University
Darshini Ayton - Monash University
Anne Kavanagh - The University of Melbourne
Megan R. Hawkins - The University of Melbourne
Claudia H. Marck - The University of Melbourne
Publication Details: Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, Vol.29(2), e70626
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Number of pages: 15
Identifiers: 991005865140107891
Murdoch Affiliation: Personalised Medicine Centre; School of Allied Health
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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