Problem Gambling Clinical Trial
Official title:
A Personalized Feedback Intervention for Problem Gamblers
The main aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the sustained efficacy of a
personalized feedback intervention for problem gamblers. Adult problem gamblers who express
an interest in self-help materials for gamblers will be recruited from respondents to a
random digit telephone survey, which also collects the baseline data. Subjects will be
randomly assigned to receive personalized feedback about their gambling, or to a waiting
list control group.
Three-month, six-month, and 12-month follow-up surveys will be conducted by mail to assess
gambling over the intervening periods. Collaterals will be requested as part of the 12-month
follow-up and interviewed by telephone. Gambling at three- six- and 12-months will be
compared between the groups. Change in perception of gambling norms and sex will be tested
as mediational and moderating variables.
Most problem gamblers don't access treatment, often because of stigma, embarrassment or a
desire to handle their problems on their own. However, research has demonstrated the
effectiveness of self-help interventions for gambling problems, and this area deserves more
attention because it addresses a cost-effective means of helping problem gamblers without
requiring them to come to treatment. One promising self-help intervention for problem
gamblers is personalized feedback. Such interventions have shown consistently positive
results with other addictive behaviours, and our pilot test of personalized feedback
materials for gamblers showed positive results. This randomized controlled study will
evaluate the sustained efficacy of a personalized feedback intervention for problem gamblers
in the general population of Ontario. It will also allow testing of the hypothesis that
change in perception of gambling norms is a mediator in this process.
Hypothesis 1: Problem gamblers who receive the personalized feedback intervention will
reduce their gambling more than problem gamblers who do not receive any intervention
(waiting list control condition) by a six-month follow-up.Hypothesis 2: The effect of the
intervention will be sustained through the 12-month follow-up.Hypothesis 3 (mediator
hypothesis): Respondents in the intervention condition who report greater reductions in
their estimates about how much others gamble between baseline and three-month follow-up will
demonstrate more improvement in gambling outcomes at six-month follow-up, compared to
respondents in the intervention condition who report smaller reductions in their perceived
gambling norms.
The design of this study is a randomized (modified) waiting list controlled study. Subjects
will be recruited via a random digit dialing telephone screener of the Ontario population.
Respondents who are identified by the screener as problem gamblers and who indicate an
interest in receiving, at some time in the future, a free computerized summary comparing
their gambling to that of other Canadians, will be asked if they will take part in a study
to "help us develop and evaluate self-help materials for gamblers." They will be told that
the materials and the three-, six- and 12-month follow-up surveys would be mailed to them.
Compensation is provided for the completion of each survey.
Provision of name and address will constitute consent. Subjects will be randomly assigned to
condition - those in the intervention condition will be sent their personalized feedback -
those in the control condition will be asked to tell us what they think should be included
in self-help materials for gamblers. (Control subjects will receive the personalized
feedback after the six-month follow-up.)
3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up questionnaires will be sent to all subjects.
On the 12-month follow-up subjects will be asked to provide the name, address and telephone
number of a collateral.
;
Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Subject), Primary Purpose: Treatment
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