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NCT Number: NCT06642155

Theory-based Intervention for Promoting Responsible Gambling Among College Students

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention helps promote responsible gambling behaviors in University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) students aged 21 and older who have a Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score of 3 or higher. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the intervention reduce harmful gambling behaviors? Does the intervention increase responsible gambling practices? Researchers will compare participants receiving the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention with those receiving a knowledge-based intervention to see if the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention is more effective.

Participants will:

Attend three face-to-face sessions on responsible gambling over three weeks. Complete surveys before, after, and eight weeks after the intervention to track their progress.

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Key information

Conditions

Problem Gambling Behavior Behavioral Addiction Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders Gambling Gambling Disorder Mental Disorders Pathological Gambling Risk-Taking

Age range

21 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

This study investigates the efficacy of the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention, designed to promote responsible gambling behaviors among college students at UNLV. College students are a vulnerable group for developing gambling-related problems, with a significantly higher prevalence of problem and pathological gambling compared to the general population. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention, which is based on the Multi-theory Model (MTM) of health behavior change, to a traditional knowledge-based intervention.

The RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention addresses both the initiation and sustenance of behavior change, incorporating elements such as participatory dialogue, behavioral confidence, and changes in the social and physical environments. The intervention aims to equip participants with practical strategies to manage and limit gambling behaviors.

The study will take place over a three-week period, with face-to-face sessions designed to engage participants in discussions and self-guided activities that promote responsible gambling. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at eight weeks post-intervention to evaluate the long-term impact of the intervention. A two-factor repeated measures analysis will be used to assess changes in gambling behaviors and related psychological constructs over time.

The findings from this study may provide critical evidence to support the use of theory-based interventions to reduce gambling-related harms in a college student population, which can inform future public health strategies.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Must be at least 21 years old.
  • Must be a enrolled UNLV student.
  • Must engage in gambling activities.
  • Must have a score of 3 or higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), indicating at-risk or problem gambling behavior.

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants currently receiving treatment for gambling disorders.
  • Individuals with cognitive impairments that would affect their ability to provide consent or participate in the intervention.
  • Individuals who are not fluent in English (since the intervention materials and assessments will be conducted in English).

Treatment and study plan

RESPONSIBLEPLAY© MTM-Based Intervention

Behavioral

Participants in this group will receive a theory-based intervention using the Multi-theory Model (MTM) of health behavior change. The intervention includes participatory dialogue, behavioral confidence-building, and strategies to modify the physical and social environments. It also incorporates emotional transformation and practice for change. Sessions will be delivered in-person over three weeks, focusing on promoting responsible gambling behaviors.

Knowledge-Based Intervention

Behavioral

Participants in this group will receive a knowledge-based intervention that provides information on gambling risks and responsible gambling strategies. The intervention consists of lectures and reading materials delivered in-person over three weeks. It focuses on raising awareness of gambling risks but does not include the behavioral change strategies used in the MTM-based intervention.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) Score

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 3), and eight-week follow-up (Week 11)

    The primary outcome will assess changes in the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scores, which measure the severity of gambling behavior. The PGSI includes 9 items with a score range of 0 to 27, where higher scores indicate more severe gambling issues. Scores will be collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at an eight-week follow-up.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Participatory Dialogue (Perceived Advantages Minus Perceived Disadvantages) for Responsible Gambling

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 3), and eight-week follow-up (Week 11)

    This outcome will measure changes in the Participatory Dialogue construct by assessing both perceived advantages and perceived disadvantages of responsible gambling.

    Perceived Advantages will be measured using 5 items (questions 12-16) scored from 0 (not at all likely) to 4 (completely likely), with a possible score range of 0 to 20.

    Perceived Disadvantages will be measured using 5 items (questions 17-21) scored from 0 (not at all likely) to 4 (completely likely), with a possible score range of 0 to 20.

    The overall Participatory Dialogue score is calculated by subtracting the perceived disadvantages score from the perceived advantages score, yielding a possible range from -20 to +20.

  2. Change in Behavioral Confidence for Responsible Gambling

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 3), and eight-week follow-up (Week 11)

    This outcome will measure changes in Behavioral Confidence using 4 items (questions 22-25) that assess participants' confidence in engaging in responsible gambling. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all confident) to 4 (completely confident), with a possible total score ranging from 0 to 16 units.

  3. Change in the Physical Environment for Responsible Gambling

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 3), and eight-week follow-up (Week 11)

    This outcome will measure changes in Changes in the Physical Environment using 3 items (questions 26-28) that assess participants' ability to avoid gambling environments and resist access to gambling resources. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all sure) to 4 (completely sure), with a possible total score ranging from 0 to 12 units.

  4. Change in Emotional Transformation for Responsible Gambling

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 3), and eight-week follow-up (Week 11)

    This outcome will measure changes in Emotional Transformation using 3 items (questions 29-31) that assess participants' ability to manage their emotions and stay motivated toward responsible gambling. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all sure) to 4 (completely sure), with a possible total score ranging from 0 to 12 units.

  5. Change in Practice for Change for Responsible Gambling

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 3), and eight-week follow-up (Week 11)

    This outcome will measure changes in Practice for Change using 3 items (questions 32-34) that assess participants' ability to maintain responsible gambling behaviors. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all sure) to 4 (completely sure), with a possible total score ranging from 0 to 12 units.

  6. Change in the Social Environment for Responsible Gambling

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 3), and eight-week follow-up (Week 11)

    This outcome will measure changes in Changes in the Social Environment using 3 items (questions 35-37) that assess participants' ability to seek support from their social network. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all sure) to 4 (completely sure), with a possible total score ranging from 0 to 12 units.

  7. Change in Initiation of Responsible Gambling Behaviors

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 3), and eight-week follow-up (Week 11)

    This outcome will measure the overall Initiation using 3 items (questions 38-40) assessing participants' likelihood of initiating responsible gambling. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all likely) to 4 (completely likely), with a possible total score range of 0 to 12 units.

  8. Change in Sustenance of Responsible Gambling Behaviors

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 3), and eight-week follow-up (Week 11)

    This outcome will measure the overall Sustenance using 3 items (questions 41-43) assessing participants' likelihood of continuing responsible gambling. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all likely) to 4 (completely likely), with a possible total score range of 0 to 12 units.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Manoj Sharma, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

702-895-2687

Sidath C Kapukotuwa, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

725-400-1780

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Testing the Efficacy of ResponsiblePlay©: MTM-Based Intervention for Responsible Gambling for College Students

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Oct 15, 2024
Registry last updated
Oct 18, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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