Gamblers' Perceptions of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Their Gambling Behaviours: Analysis of Free-Text Responses Collected through a Cross-Sectional Online Survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought drastic changes to the lives of a substantial portion of the world's population. Many stakeholders have expressed concern about the impact of the pandemic on gambling practices, which have historically increased during times of crisis. The purpose of this study was to provide a snapshot of the impact of the pandemic on gambling practices, focusing on the lived experiences of people who gamble. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted between 16 February and 15 March 2021. An open-ended question allowed the participants to describe in their own words the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their gambling practices. A qualitative analysis was conducted based on 724 responses to this question. Among the participants, 57% were problem gamblers, according to their Problem Gambling Severity Index score. Three themes were identified: (1) changes in gambling practices perceived by the respondents during the pandemic, (2) the impacts of these changes, and (3) the factors that influenced the changes in their gambling practices. A meaningful proportion of the sample of gamblers felt that their gambling practices had increased during the pandemic. Many of them did not report the deleterious effects of this increase, whereas others were devastated. Thus, variations in gambling practices during the pandemic must be interpreted with caution, as they may reflect a variety of realities.

The acceptability of two remote monitoring modalities for patients waiting for services in a physiotherapy outpatient clinic.

INTRODUCTION: Access to public rehabilitation services for patients with non-urgent conditions - which suffer mainly from musculoskeletal disorders - is problematic around the world. Remote rehabilitation services are recognized as effective means to increase accessibility. Patient acceptability is an important element in the successful implementation of such clinical innovations and has not yet been studied thoroughly in this context. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the acceptability of two remote consultation modalities - phone and teleconsultation - for patients waiting for public outpatient non-urgent rehabilitation services. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study nested within a randomized clinical trial in which participants received either phone or teleconsultation follow-ups with a physiotherapist after a first systematic face-to-face evaluation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants of both groups selected with purposive sampling. Sekhon's acceptability metaframework was used and interviews were transcribed and coded with thematic analysis. ETHIC APPROVAL: The research protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Board of the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux - Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS) (#2019-2919). RESULTS: Twenty participants were recruited. Results show both follow-up modalities have a good level of acceptability for participants; however, teleconsultation stands out because its visual dimension offers higher quality human contact and satisfactorily meets greater needs for support. CONCLUSION: Systematic in-person assessment and advice combined with telephone or teleconsultation follow-up can contribute to diversifying the services offered in physiotherapy outpatient clinics. Offering a range of service modalities with different resource requirements may shorten wait times. Such an approach seems to be well accepted by patients, especially with teleconsultation. CLINICALTRIALS: gov ID: NCT03991858.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on gamblers in Canada: qualitative analysis of responses to an open-ended question.

CONTEXT: Many stakeholders have expressed concerns about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on gambling practices. These have historically increased during crises, potentially leading to deleterious effects on problematic gamblers, their families, and their communities. Primary care professionals need to better understand gamblers' experience during the pandemic to offer high level of care for this population. OBJECTIVE: draw up a portrait of the experience of gamblers regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their gambling practices. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative analysis. SETTING: Content analysis of responses to a single open-ended question placed at the end of a cross-sectional survey which was online from February 16 to March 15 2021 in Quebec (Canada). Participants were recruited by a non-randomised online sampling. POPULATION STUDIED: 1529 individuals participated in the study, of whom 724 answered the open-ended question. Inclusion criteria were: (1) 18 years and older (2) living in the province of Quebec, Canada (3) has gambled at least once in the past year. RESULTS: Respondents' median age is 43 years, 54% are women and 57% are problem gamblers according to the Problem Gambling Severity Index. Three main themes were identified: (1) the changes in gambling practices during the pandemic as perceived by the respondents, (2) the impacts of these changes on their lives, and (3) the factors that influenced these changes. A significant proportion of gamblers felt that their gambling practices had increased during the pandemic, mainly due to boredom and increased free time. Many of them did not report deleterious effects of this increase whereas others reported being devastated. On the opposite, the pandemic was perceived by some participants as a unique window of opportunity to decrease their problematic gambling practices. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic has created space to fill into many individuals' lives as usual leisure activities, hobbies and spending habits became out of reach. It led to increased gambling for many participants. While many did not report deleterious effects of this increase, others expressed being at great risk and therefore need primary care professionals to be equipped to support them.

Union perceptions of factors related to the return to work of employees with depression.

PURPOSE: Between 30 and 60% of the societal cost of depression is due to losses related to decreased work productivity. To date, only a few studies have focused on union perspectives related to factors influencing the return-to-work of employees absent due to depression, despite evidence of the importance of these perspectives. The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of union perspectives on the factors surrounding the return-to-work of employees who were absent from work due to depression. METHODS: In this qualitative study, conducted in Canada (Québec), 23 individuals (union representatives and peer workers) from the three largest unions (mixed industries) in Quebec took part in one of three focus groups. RESULTS: Fourteen emerging themes (e.g., work environment, attitudes toward depression) were distributed over five categories of stakeholders involved in the return-to-work of employees on sick leave (i.e., employers and immediate supervisors, co-workers, employees on sick leave due to depression, general physicians, and unions). We observed four major cross-cutting themes that arose beyond these five categories: (1) organizational culture in which mental health issues and human aspects of work are central, (2) support and follow-up during the work absence and the return-to-work, (3) lack of resources to assist the employee in the return-to-work, and (4) stakeholders' prejudices and discomfort regarding depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clarify the factors, from a union perspective, that may facilitate or hinder the return-to-work of employees absent from work due to depression.