Unguided Chatbot-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Intervention for Problem Gamblers Through Messaging App: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
J Gambl Stud
; 36(4): 1391-1407, 2020 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32162075
ABSTRACT
Internet-delivered intervention may be an acceptable alternative for the more than 90% of problem gamblers who are reluctant to seek face-to-face support. Thus, we aimed to (1) develop a low-dropout unguided intervention named GAMBOT integrated with a messaging app; and (2) investigate its effect. The present study was a randomised, quadruple-blind, controlled trial. We set pre-to-post change in the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) as the primary outcome and pre-to-post change in the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) as a secondary outcome. Daily monitoring, personalised feedback, and private messages based on cognitive behavioural theory were offered to participants in the intervention group through a messaging app for 28 days (GAMBOT). Participants in the control group received biweekly messages only for assessments for 28 days (assessments only). A total of 197 problem gamblers were included in the primary analysis. We failed to demonstrate a significant between-group difference in the primary outcome (PGSI - 1.14, 95% CI - 2.75 to 0.47, p = 0.162) but in the secondary outcome (G-SAS - 3.14, 95% CI - 0.24 to - 6.04, p = 0.03). Only 6.7% of the participants dropped out during follow-up and 77% of the GAMBOT group participants (74/96) continued to participate in the intervention throughout the 28-day period. Integrating intervention into a chatbot feature on a frequently used messaging app shows promise in helping to overcome the high dropout rate of unguided internet-delivered interventions. More effective and sophisticated contents delivered by a chatbot should be sought to engage over 90% of problem gamblers who are reluctant to seek face-to-face support.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental
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Aplicativos Móveis
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Jogo de Azar
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Intervenção Baseada em Internet
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Gambl Stud
Assunto da revista:
PSICOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Japão