Theory-based Intervention for Promoting Responsible Gambling Among College Students

Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE)

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Pathological Gambling; Gambling Disorder; Problem Gambling; Behavioral Addiction

Treatments: Behavioral: Knowledge-Based Intervention; Behavioral: RESPONSIBLEPLAY© MTM-Based Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06642155

UNLV-2024-507

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention helps promote responsible gambling behaviors in University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) students aged 21 and older who have a Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score of 3 or higher. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the intervention reduce harmful gambling behaviors? Does the intervention increase responsible gambling practices? Researchers will compare participants receiving the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention with those receiving a knowledge-based intervention to see if the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention is more effective.

Participants will:

Attend three face-to-face sessions on responsible gambling over three weeks. Complete surveys before, after, and eight weeks after the intervention to track their progress.

Full description

This study investigates the efficacy of the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention, designed to promote responsible gambling behaviors among college students at UNLV. College students are a vulnerable group for developing gambling-related problems, with a significantly higher prevalence of problem and pathological gambling compared to the general population. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare the RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention, which is based on the Multi-theory Model (MTM) of health behavior change, to a traditional knowledge-based intervention.

The RESPONSIBLEPLAY© intervention addresses both the initiation and sustenance of behavior change, incorporating elements such as participatory dialogue, behavioral confidence, and changes in the social and physical environments. The intervention aims to equip participants with practical strategies to manage and limit gambling behaviors.

The study will take place over a three-week period, with face-to-face sessions designed to engage participants in discussions and self-guided activities that promote responsible gambling. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at eight weeks post-intervention to evaluate the long-term impact of the intervention. A two-factor repeated measures analysis will be used to assess changes in gambling behaviors and related psychological constructs over time.

The findings from this study may provide critical evidence to support the use of theory-based interventions to reduce gambling-related harms in a college student population, which can inform future public health strategies.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Must be a enrolled UNLV student.
• Must engage in gambling activities.
• Must have a score of 3 or higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), indicating at-risk or problem gambling behavior.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants currently receiving treatment for gambling disorders.
• Individuals with cognitive impairments that would affect their ability to provide consent or participate in the intervention.
• Individuals who are not fluent in English (since the intervention materials and assessments will be conducted in English).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

RESPONSIBLEPLAY© MTM-Based Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive a theory-based intervention designed to promote responsible gambling behaviors using the Multi-theory Model (MTM) of health behavior change. The intervention focuses on both the initiation and sustenance of responsible gambling through six constructs: Participatory Dialogue: Discussing the pros and cons of responsible gambling. Behavioral Confidence: Building confidence to practice responsible gambling. Changes in the Physical Environment: Modifying surroundings to limit gambling opportunities. Emotional Transformation: Managing emotions to maintain behavior change. Practice for Change: Planning and practicing responsible gambling strategies. Changes in the Social Environment: Leveraging support from family, friends, and professionals. This intervention aims to provide practical strategies for adopting and maintaining responsible gambling behaviors.

Treatment:

Behavioral: RESPONSIBLEPLAY© MTM-Based Intervention

Knowledge-Based Intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive educational content about the risks of gambling and strategies for responsible gambling in the form of lectures and reading materials.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Knowledge-Based Intervention