Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
Clinical Research Unit, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK.
BMJ Open. 2023 Mar 14;13(3):e065400. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065400.
Gambling is increasingly recognised as an important public health issue. Problem gambling is associated with highly negative impacts on physical, psychological and social well-being, not only for those who gamble but also for those around them. There has been a rapid expansion of internet gambling and attributes such as continuous play and instant rewards, and enhanced privacy may lead to a greater likelihood of gambling-related harms. In this randomised controlled feasibility study, we are testing (1) the acceptability and feasibility of three online responsible gambling interventions targeting people with low-to-moderate risk of online problem gambling and (2) the feasibility of a future full-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.
Four-arm randomised controlled feasibility study with qualitative substudy. One-hundred and forty UK residents with low-to-moderate risk of online gambling recruited via gambling operators and social media will be randomised (1:1:1:1) to either (1) goal setting, (2) descriptive norms messages (challenge perceptions of peer behaviours), (3) injunctive norms messages (challenge perceptions of peer attitudes) and (4) control (delayed intervention). Interventions will be delivered over 6 weeks and individually tailored. Outcomes, administered online, will be measured at baseline, 7 weeks, and 3 and 6 months post randomisation (including gambling risk behaviours and cognitions, anxiety and depression, quality of life, health use and productivity). Analyses will be descriptive, focusing on feasibility and acceptability of the interventions and study procedures. Telephone/online interviews, with a subsample of approximately 30 participants, will elicit experiences of participating in the study. Prespecified progression criteria will guide decisions around whether to progress to a definitive RCT.
Ethical approval obtained from Bournemouth University Research Ethics Committee (reference number 33247). Participants will be given a participant information sheet plus a 'Key Facts' summary and will provide informed online consent. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences and public engagement events.
ISRCTN37874344.
赌博日益被视为一个重要的公共卫生问题。赌博问题不仅对赌徒本身，也对其周围的人，会产生高度的负面影响，包括身体、心理和社会福祉方面。随着互联网赌博的迅速扩张，其连续游戏和即时奖励等特点，以及增强的隐私性，可能会增加与赌博相关的危害。在这项随机对照可行性研究中，我们正在测试（1）针对低至中度网络赌博问题风险人群的三种在线负责任赌博干预措施的可接受性和可行性，以及（2）未来全面随机对照试验（RCT）的可行性，以测试其效果和成本效益。
这是一项四臂随机对照可行性研究，其中包括定性子研究。通过赌博运营商和社交媒体招募了 140 名英国低至中度网络赌博风险的居民，他们将被随机分配（1:1:1:1）至以下四个组：（1）目标设定，（2）描述性规范信息（挑战对同伴行为的看法），（3）禁令规范信息（挑战对同伴态度的看法）和（4）对照组（延迟干预）。干预措施将在 6 周内进行，并进行个性化定制。在线进行的结果评估将在基线、7 周、随机分组后 3 个月和 6 个月进行（包括赌博风险行为和认知、焦虑和抑郁、生活质量、健康使用和生产力）。分析将是描述性的，重点关注干预措施和研究程序的可行性和可接受性。大约 30 名参与者的电话/在线访谈将收集他们参与研究的经验。预设的进展标准将指导是否进行确定性 RCT 的决策。
已获得伯恩茅斯大学伦理委员会的批准（参考编号 33247）。参与者将收到一份参与者信息表以及一份“关键事实”摘要，并将在线提供知情同意。研究结果将发表在同行评议的期刊上，并在会议和公众参与活动中展示。
ISRCTN37874344。
