We’re delighted to announce that one of our alumna, Nur Hidayati Handayani (2021) has been awarded the Evidence-Based Health Care Best Dissertations for 2022-23.

Nur’s Dissertation, titled ‘A Thematic Synthesis of the Experiences of Social Prescribing among Patients in the UK’, used a qualitative method (typically interview) to explore patients’ experiences of social prescribing in the UK. Her research highlighted the importance of matching social prescribing referral with patients’ readiness to engage.

Nur said: “Winning the Outstanding EBHC Dissertation Prize is like mixing a cocktail of perseverance, resilience, and a generous splash of self-compassion – shaken, not stirred, through adversity. It’s a reminder that the academic journey isn’t just about flexing your academic muscles but also about embracing the art of being kind to yourself. I am immensely grateful for the tremendous support I received from my family, my second reviewer, Akhil Jadeja, supervisors, Marta Wanat and Stephanie Tierney, Oxford librarian, Nia Roberts, the course director of the MSc EBHC programme, Annette Plüddemann, Kellogg College staff, friends, and my cat.”

Nur is also an independent mental health counsellor and a DJ. Read more about her time at Oxford on the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine website: Balance is your best friend—mix rigorous study with the rich experiences Oxford offers.