Online interventions for people with problem gambling and unhealthy alcohol use

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Author(s): Cunningham, John A. ; Hodgins, David C. ; Keough, Matthew T. ; Hendershot, Christian S. ; Schell, Christina ; Godinho, Alexandra

Journal: Internet Interventions

Year Published: 2020

Date Added: April 30, 2020

Problem gambling tends to co-occur with unhealthy alcohol use. The researchers did a randomized controlled trial. They looked at if adding a brief feedback on unhealthy alcohol use could improve the effects of a gambling intervention. A total of 282 participants concerned about their gambling and interested in online help took part in the study. They were randomly assigned to either a gambling and alcohol, or gambling only online intervention. It was found that 80.5% and 41.1% met the criteria for problematic gambling and unhealthy alcohol use, respectively. Follow-up rates were 80.1% and 84% at 3 and 6 months. Problem gambling reduced over time for both groups. However, there were no differences between the groups. Unhealthy alcohol use did not reduce over time for both groups. Also, there were no differences in alcohol use between the groups. The interventions helped reduced problem gambling but not unhealthy alcohol use.

Citation: Cunningham, J. A., Hodgins, D. C., Keough, M., Hendershot, C. S., Schell, C., & Godinho, A. (2020). Online interventions for problem gamblers with and without co-occurring unhealthy alcohol use: Randomized controlled trial. Internet Interventions, 19, 100307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2020.100307

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2020.100307

Keywords: alcohol use ; alcohol use disorder ; comorbidities ; gambling ; online interventions ; Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Topics: Comorbidities ; Gambling and the Brain ; Gambling Assessment ; Substance Use

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Psychological Factors ; Gambling Resources ; Resources - Interventions

Response Rate: 80% at 3-months, 84% at 6-months

Study Design: Experimental: RCT (randomized controlled trial)

Geographic Coverage: Canada

Study Population: People who were concerned about their gambling and interested in online help (N = 282)

Sampling Procedure: Convenience sampling by using online advertisements placed on several diﬀerent platforms (e.g. Facebook, Google AdWords, Kijiji)

Study Funding:

This study was funded by Manitoba Gambling Research Program of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.