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Prevention and Education applies to an extensive range of gambling studies literature. Not only is the target level of measures important (universal, selective, and indicated), other factors need to be considered such as gambling opportunities, format (online and/or in person), gambling types (e.g., EGMs, sports betting, lottery play, casinos, horse racing, poker, etc.), advertising and messaging, regulatory measures, and types of interventions (e.g., online, self-initiated, or imposed by others).
| Process for defining the project scope |
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The Gambling Commission entered into discussions with Greo in August 2019 about conducting a systematic review of gambling harm prevention and education initiatives at three levels of measures. This review would add to the work by the National Institute for Health Research and Public Health England on options for gambling harm prevention programmes and initiatives and pathways for delivery. The process of refining the project scope was iterative. It involved an ongoing dialogue between the Gambling Commission and Greo, aided by consultations with research experts in the content areas. Although a systematic review was the most desired approach to each topic, early in the project scoping process it became clear that this method was not the most appropriate review method for each chapter. A systematic review requires an established base of evidence. It systematically searches for, appraises quality, and synthesises research evidence within strict guidelines. Where the evidence base was less well developed, two other approaches were employed. Scoping reviews are well suited to topics where there is a need to establish the potential size and scope of an existing evidence base. They are useful for assessing the current state of evidence and knowledge gaps. Narrative reviews are used when the research base is even more limited and often just beginning to emerge. This type of review brings together findings from research studies and provides some interpretation and explanation of the evidence. Part of the project scoping process was to determine the most appropriate review method for each chapter. To provide greater context for the research evidence, the Gambling Commission also requested that the perspectives and insights of third sector charity representatives in the UK be included. Based on their expert experience, third sector charities who design and deliver gambling harm prevention and education programmes and initiatives would be highly useful in drawing attention to effective approaches as well as those with unintended consequences. The project scoping process was finalised in April 2020 by the Gambling Commission. The project scoping timeline documents meeting dates and the project scope development. A link is provided to the final, agreed-upon project scope. Note that one chapter that was to be included in the selective measures section, “Targeted safer gambling campaigns and their information pathways,” was subsequently reassessed. Although highly important to gambling harm prevention and education, the size and scope of this measure is considerably more extensive than the others, since it examines seven selected at-risk groups (ethnocultural groups, affected others, employees, university students, military and veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and people who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated). It was therefore decided that a separate, stand-alone report would be developed to address these groups and highlight their unique qualities and characteristics for gambling harm prevention and education planning. Chapter protocols:
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| Peer review process |
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The Prevention and Education Review Advisory Committee recommended that each chapter of the report undergo a peer review to ensure accuracy of information, appropriate methodological approach, and consistency in presentation so that the information would be accessible to a non-specialist, educated audience. Peer reviews were conducted for each individual chapter and search strategy. Chapters were assessed by three peer reviewers where possible. Ideally, the reviewers for each chapter represented one of the following specialisation areas: public health, gambling studies, and review methodologies. The Stakeholder Consultation chapter also included a reviewer who was employed by a different third sector charity. Search strategies for each chapter underwent the PRESS review to ensure their thoroughness and accuracy in retrieving citations. A PRESS review is designed to help guide the review of electronic database and grey literature search strategies. The reviews were conducted by experienced Information Professionals with either a gambling studies or public health background. All reviewers are listed below, with grateful thanks for the services they provided. |