Experience of the Nationwide Gambling Self-exclusion Service Spelpaus - Effects and Limitations of a Unique Harm Reduction Instrument for Problem Gambling

Qualitative interview study addressing the effects and limitations of a unique, government-based, nationwide self-exclusion service for the reduction of gambling-related harm. This service, which allows for individuals at risk of gambling problems (and for anyone) to self-exclude from all licensed gambling in the country, is unique in its nationwide, non-gambling-operator-dependent and multi-operator design. It is a promising tool for the prevention and harm reduction in relation to problem gambling and gambling disorder, but emerging research data report considerable limitations including high access to non-licensed gambling allowing users to breach the voluntary self-exclusion and relapse into hazardous gambling practices. This study will examine effects and limitations of the system, for gamblers and for concerned significant others of gamblers, through qualitative interviews addressing their experience of the system.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Gambling Disorder; Problem Gambling
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling ('Spelpaus')

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 20

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Sweden
  • Malmö, Sweden
    • Recruiting
    • Malmö Addiction Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

1. Patients at a gambling disorder unit, or self-recruited through social media advertising and defining as a person with a gambling problem
2. Concerned significant others of patients at a gambling disorder unit or self-recruited through social media advertising and defining as a concerned significant other of a person with a gambling problem.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient at a gambling disorder unit or self-recruited through social media advertising and defining as a person with a gambling problem, and/or concerned significant other of a patient at a gambling disorder unit or self-recruited through social media advertising and defining as a concerned significant other of a person with a gambling problem.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to provide informed study consent and to carry out a qualitative research interview, due to language difficulties and/or cognitive problems.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Other
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Individuals with a gambling problem; Recruited from a gambling disorder treatment unit and/or from social media advertising addressing individuals with a gambling problem.	Behavioral: Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling ('Spelpaus'); Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling, using the government-based, official service 'Spelpaus' (literally 'play break')
Concerned significant others; Recruited as concerned signifiant others of patients at a gambling disorder treatment unit and/or in social media advertising addressing concerned significant others of individuals with a gambling problem.	Behavioral: Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling ('Spelpaus'); Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling, using the government-based, official service 'Spelpaus' (literally 'play break')

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Qualitative reporting of self-perceived effects from self-exclusion	Subjective perception of favorable effects on gambling behavior or well-being	Since 2019
Qualitative reporting of self-perceived harm or limitations from self-exclusion	Subjective perception of negative impact or lack of improvement with respect to gambling behavior or well-being	Since 2019

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Region Skane
• Collaborators: Lund University
• Investigators: Study Director: Helena Hansson, PhD, Lund University, School of Social Work

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ANTICIPATED): February 13, 2023
• Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED): June 30, 2023
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): July 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 27, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 12, 2023
• First Posted (ACTUAL): January 20, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): February 9, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 7, 2023
• Last Verified: February 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: harm reduction; problem gambling; gambling disorder; concerned significant others; self-exclusion
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders; Gambling
• Other Study ID Numbers: Spelpaus study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No