Developing and Testing the Effectiveness of a Novel Online Integrated Treatment for Problem Gambling and Tobacco Smoking: A Protocol for an Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Gambling and tobacco smoking are highly comorbid among North American adults. However, there is a paucity of treatment options that are integrated (i.e., targeting both gambling and tobacco smoking simultaneously), accessible, and evidence based.
Methods: The aim of this two-arm open label randomized controlled trial is to examine the effectiveness of an online, self-guided integrated treatment for problem gambling and tobacco smoking. A target sample of 214 participants will be recruited and be randomized into either an eight-week integrated or gambling-only control condition. Both conditions will consist of seven online modules following cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing principles. Our three primary outcomes are (1) number of days gambled, (2) money spent on gambling activities, and (3) time spent in gambling activities. Secondary outcomes include gambling disorder symptoms, cigarette use, and nicotine dependence symptoms. Assessments will be completed at baseline, at completion (i.e., eight-weeks from baseline), and follow-up (i.e., 24-weeks from baseline). Generalized linear mixed modelling will be used to evaluate our primary and secondary outcomes. We expect that participants receiving online integrated treatment will show larger reductions in gambling relative to those receiving a control gambling only intervention. We further hypothesize that reductions in smoking will mediate these group differences.
Discussion: The rates of problem gambling and tobacco smoking are high in North America; yet, the treatment options for both are limited, with no integrated treatments available. If supported, our pilot study will be a cost-effective and accessible way to improve treatments for co-occurring problem gambling and tobacco use.
Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov; ID NCT03614884. Registered August 3, 2019;
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03614884?term=keough&rank=1
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Posted 23 Sep, 2020
On 19 Nov, 2020
On 02 Nov, 2020
Received 27 Oct, 2020
Received 05 Oct, 2020
Received 30 Sep, 2020
On 28 Sep, 2020
Invitations sent on 25 Sep, 2020
On 25 Sep, 2020
On 25 Sep, 2020
On 24 Sep, 2020
On 22 Sep, 2020
Received 24 Aug, 2020
On 24 Aug, 2020
Received 23 Aug, 2020
Received 14 Aug, 2020
On 28 Jul, 2020
On 27 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 24 Jul, 2020
On 24 Jul, 2020
On 18 Jul, 2020
On 15 Jul, 2020
On 10 May, 2020
Developing and Testing the Effectiveness of a Novel Online Integrated Treatment for Problem Gambling and Tobacco Smoking: A Protocol for an Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial
Posted 23 Sep, 2020
On 19 Nov, 2020
On 02 Nov, 2020
Received 27 Oct, 2020
Received 05 Oct, 2020
Received 30 Sep, 2020
On 28 Sep, 2020
Invitations sent on 25 Sep, 2020
On 25 Sep, 2020
On 25 Sep, 2020
On 24 Sep, 2020
On 22 Sep, 2020
Received 24 Aug, 2020
On 24 Aug, 2020
Received 23 Aug, 2020
Received 14 Aug, 2020
On 28 Jul, 2020
On 27 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 24 Jul, 2020
On 24 Jul, 2020
On 18 Jul, 2020
On 15 Jul, 2020
On 10 May, 2020
Background: Gambling and tobacco smoking are highly comorbid among North American adults. However, there is a paucity of treatment options that are integrated (i.e., targeting both gambling and tobacco smoking simultaneously), accessible, and evidence based.
Methods: The aim of this two-arm open label randomized controlled trial is to examine the effectiveness of an online, self-guided integrated treatment for problem gambling and tobacco smoking. A target sample of 214 participants will be recruited and be randomized into either an eight-week integrated or gambling-only control condition. Both conditions will consist of seven online modules following cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing principles. Our three primary outcomes are (1) number of days gambled, (2) money spent on gambling activities, and (3) time spent in gambling activities. Secondary outcomes include gambling disorder symptoms, cigarette use, and nicotine dependence symptoms. Assessments will be completed at baseline, at completion (i.e., eight-weeks from baseline), and follow-up (i.e., 24-weeks from baseline). Generalized linear mixed modelling will be used to evaluate our primary and secondary outcomes. We expect that participants receiving online integrated treatment will show larger reductions in gambling relative to those receiving a control gambling only intervention. We further hypothesize that reductions in smoking will mediate these group differences.
Discussion: The rates of problem gambling and tobacco smoking are high in North America; yet, the treatment options for both are limited, with no integrated treatments available. If supported, our pilot study will be a cost-effective and accessible way to improve treatments for co-occurring problem gambling and tobacco use.
Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov; ID NCT03614884. Registered August 3, 2019;
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03614884?term=keough&rank=1
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3