TY - JOUR
T1 - Online interventions for problem gamblers with and without co-occurring unhealthy alcohol use
T2 - Randomized controlled trial
AU - Cunningham, John A.
AU - Hodgins, David C.
AU - Keough, Matthew
AU - Hendershot, Christian S.
AU - Schell, Christina
AU - Godinho, Alexandra
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by the Manitoba Gambling Research Program of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries ; however, the findings and conclusions of this paper are those solely of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries. The funding body has no role or influence on the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript. This research was undertaken in part thanks to funding from the Canada Research Chairs program for support of Dr Cunningham, the Canada Research Chair in Addictions. Support to CAMH for salary of scientists and infrastructure has been provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Background and aims: Problem gambling and unhealthy alcohol use often co-occur. The current trial sought to establish whether adding a brief online intervention for unhealthy alcohol use to an online problem gambling intervention would lead to improvements in gambling and drinking among those with both of these concerns. Methods: Participants were recruited from across Canada using an advertisement targeting those concerned about their gambling who were interested in online help. No mention of unhealthy alcohol use was made in the advertisement. Participants meeting criteria for problem gambling were randomized to either receive just an online intervention for gambling (G-only) or to receive an online gambling intervention plus a brief personalized feedback intervention for unhealthy alcohol use (G + A). Participants were followed up at 3 and 6 months. Results: A total of 282 participants were recruited for the trial. Follow-up rates were good (80% and 84% at 3 and 6 months). There were significant reductions in gambling (p <.001) across time but no significant differences (p >.05) between those who received either the G-only or G + A interventions. Further, for those with unhealthy alcohol use (41% of the sample), there were no significant reductions in alcohol consumption (p >.05) across time or differences between condition. Discussion and conclusion: The addition of a brief intervention for unhealthy alcohol use to an online intervention for gambling did not appear to improve either gambling or drinking outcomes among people concerned about their gambling. Further research is merited to examine whether a combined intervention (with gambling and drinking components integrated) might result in improved outcomes and whether such an intervention might benefit the subgroup of participants who would specifically seek help for both gambling and alcohol concerns. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03323606; Registration date: October 24, 2017.
AB - Background and aims: Problem gambling and unhealthy alcohol use often co-occur. The current trial sought to establish whether adding a brief online intervention for unhealthy alcohol use to an online problem gambling intervention would lead to improvements in gambling and drinking among those with both of these concerns. Methods: Participants were recruited from across Canada using an advertisement targeting those concerned about their gambling who were interested in online help. No mention of unhealthy alcohol use was made in the advertisement. Participants meeting criteria for problem gambling were randomized to either receive just an online intervention for gambling (G-only) or to receive an online gambling intervention plus a brief personalized feedback intervention for unhealthy alcohol use (G + A). Participants were followed up at 3 and 6 months. Results: A total of 282 participants were recruited for the trial. Follow-up rates were good (80% and 84% at 3 and 6 months). There were significant reductions in gambling (p <.001) across time but no significant differences (p >.05) between those who received either the G-only or G + A interventions. Further, for those with unhealthy alcohol use (41% of the sample), there were no significant reductions in alcohol consumption (p >.05) across time or differences between condition. Discussion and conclusion: The addition of a brief intervention for unhealthy alcohol use to an online intervention for gambling did not appear to improve either gambling or drinking outcomes among people concerned about their gambling. Further research is merited to examine whether a combined intervention (with gambling and drinking components integrated) might result in improved outcomes and whether such an intervention might benefit the subgroup of participants who would specifically seek help for both gambling and alcohol concerns. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03323606; Registration date: October 24, 2017.
KW - Co-occurring disorders
KW - Gambling
KW - Internet intervention
KW - Randomized controlled trial
KW - Unhealthy alcohol use
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078479629&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.invent.2020.100307
DO - 10.1016/j.invent.2020.100307
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85078479629
SN - 2214-7829
VL - 19
JO - Internet Interventions
JF - Internet Interventions
M1 - 100307
ER -
