A Personalized Feedback Intervention for Problem Gamblers

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.

Inclusion criteria

• at least 18 years old
• encompassing the full range of potential problems from moderate problem gambling to gambling dependence as defined by the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI score of 3 or more)
• spent at least $100.00 in the past year on gambling
• will indicate an interest in self-help materials for problem gamblers.