ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5197-1793
Current Organisation
Deakin University
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-06-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S10899-023-10223-0
Abstract: Gamblers and their family members or friends (affected others) can experience stigma and shame due to gambling which can result in a reluctance to seek timely support. However, gamblers and affected others access intersecting health services and talk to friends or family, thereby providing opportunities for early intervention. Three sides of the coin is a group of storytellers with lived experience of gambling harm who use dramatic performance to share personal stories to enhance the understanding of gambling-related harm in allied professions and the broader community. They do this to encourage attitude and behaviour change so that gamblers and affected others receive empathy and support during encounters with these groups. A mixed-methods study was used to explore whether these performances were successful in increasing understanding and changing attitudes and behaviour of allied professionals and the community in the short and longer-term. Data collected immediately post-performance revealed that performances increased understanding of gambling, and improved attitudes and behavioural intent of audience members in relation to gamblers and affected others. Professionals also reported an increased willingness and confidence to discuss gambling harm with clients. Follow-up data demonstrated potential longer-term impact, with respondents continuing to report more positive attitudes towards those affected by gambling harm and professionals being confident to explore gambling issues in their clients and provide appropriate referrals. These finding demonstrate that performance based on lived experience can be a powerful education tool, encouraging deep connection to the issue, resulting in a nuanced understanding and sustained attitudinal and behavioural change.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 26-07-2022
DOI: 10.2196/38919
Abstract: People with gambling problems frequently report repeated unsuccessful attempts to change their behavior. Although many behavior change techniques are available to in iduals to reduce gambling harm, they can be challenging to implement or maintain. The provision of implementation support tailored for immediate, real-time, in idualized circumstances may improve attempts at behavior change. We aimed to develop and evaluate a Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) for in iduals who require support to adhere to their gambling limits. JITAI development is based on the principles of the Health Action Process Approach with delivery, in alignment with the principles of self-determination theory. The primary objective was to determine the effect of action- and coping planning compared with no intervention on the goal of subsequently adhering to gambling expenditure limits. Gambling Habit Hacker is delivered as a JITAI providing in-the-moment support for adhering to gambling expenditure limits (primary proximal outcome). Delivered via a smartphone app, this JITAI delivers tailored behavior change techniques related to goal setting, action planning, coping planning, and self-monitoring. The Gambling Habit Hacker app will be evaluated using a 28-day microrandomized trial. Up to 200 in iduals seeking support for their own gambling from Australia and New Zealand will set a gambling expenditure limit (ie, goal). They will then be asked to complete 3 time-based ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) per day over a 28-day period. EMAs will assess real-time adherence to gambling limits, strength of intention to adhere to goals, goal self-efficacy, urge self-efficacy, and being in high-risk situations. On the basis of the responses to each EMA, participants will be randomized to the control (a set of 25 self-enactable strategies containing names only and no implementation information) or intervention (self-enactable strategy implementation information with facilitated action- and coping planning) conditions. This microrandomized trial will be supplemented with a 6-month within-group follow-up that explores the long-term impact of the app on gambling expenditure (primary distal outcome) and a range of secondary outcomes, as well as an evaluation of the acceptability of the JITAI via postintervention surveys, app use and engagement indices, and semistructured interviews. This trial has been approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2020-304). The intervention has been subject to expert user testing, with high acceptability scores. The results will inform a more nuanced version of the Gambling Habit Hacker app for wider use. Gambling Habit Hacker is part of a suite of interventions for addictive behaviors that deliver implementation support grounded in lived experience. This study may inform the usefulness of delivering implementation intentions in real time and in real-world settings. It potentially offers people with gambling problems new support to set their gambling intentions and adhere to their limits. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12622000497707 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=383568 DERR1-10.2196/38919
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 21-04-2022
Abstract: eople with gambling problems frequently report repeated unsuccessful attempts to change behaviour. Even though a range of behaviour change techniques are available to in iduals to reduce gambling harm, they can be challenging to implement or maintain in the moment. The provision of implementation support, tailored for immediate, real-time in idualised circumstances, may improve attempts at behaviour change. he aim of the current study is to develop and evaluate a Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) for in iduals who want support sticking to their gambling limits. The JITAI development is based on the principles of the Health Action Process Approach with delivery in alignment with the principles of Self-Determination Theory. The primary objective is to determine the effect of action and coping planning compared to no intervention on the goal of subsequently adhering to gambling expenditure limits. ambling Habit Hacker is delivered as a JITAI providing in-the-moment support for adhering to gambling expenditure limits (primary proximal outcome). Delivered via smartphone app, this JITAI delivers tailored Behaviour Change Techniques relating to goal setting, action planning, coping planning and self-monitoring. The Gambling Habit Hacker app will be evaluated with a 28-day micro-randomised trial (MRT). Up to 200 in iduals seeking support for their own gambling from Australia and New Zealand will set a gambling expenditure limit (i.e., goal). They will then be asked to complete three Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) per day over a 28-day period. EMAs will assess real-time adherence to gambling limits, strength of intention to adhere to goals, goal self-efficacy, urge self-efficacy and being in a high-risk situation. Based on responses to each EMA, participants will be randomised to the control (a set of 25 self-enactable strategies containing names only and no implementation information) or intervention (self-enactable strategy implementation information with facilitated action and coping planning) conditions. This MRT will be supplemented with: (i) a 6-month within-group follow-up which explores the longer-term impact of the app on gambling expenditure (primary distal outcome) and a range of secondary outcomes (gambling frequency, gambling symptom severity, psychological distress, well-being, situational confidence and planning propensity) (ii) an evaluation of acceptability of the JITAI via post-intervention surveys, app usage and engagement indices, and in-depth interviews. he intervention has been subject to expert user testing, with high acceptability scores. The results will inform a more nuanced version of the Gambling Habit Hacker app for wider use. ambling Habit Hacker is part of a suite of interventions for addictive behaviours that deliver implementation support grounded in lived experience. This study may inform the usefulness of delivering implementation intentions in real-time and in real-world settings. It potentially offers people with gambling problems new support to set gambling intentions and stick to their limits. his trial has been registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000497707) and has been approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2020-304).
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-01-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S10899-018-09823-Y
Abstract: A proliferation of wagering advertising has raised concerns about its effects, especially on vulnerable gamblers. This study examined exposure to wagering advertisements and inducements, and their reported influence on the size, frequency and riskiness of bets placed-amongst regular bettors and by gambler risk group. An Ecological Momentary Assessment design minimised recall bias. After completing a baseline survey, 722 regular bettors completed up to 15 surveys administered on 5 days per week over three non-consecutive weeks. Data were analysed for the 316 race bettors and 279 sports bettors completing at least one survey. The results indicate that regular bettors have almost daily exposure to wagering advertising, including for inducements. The most frequently seen and influential advertisement types were direct messages (emails, texts and/or phone calls from wagering operators, which, in Australia, bettors are automatically opted-into when opening a betting account) and advertisements on betting websites or apps. Participants reported the most influential inducements to be: stake-back offers, multi-bet offers, match your stake or deposit offers, better odds/winnings inducements, happy hours, rewards programs, and cash out early offers. The findings indicate that wagering advertisements, including for inducements, are likely to be having powerful effects on regular bettors. On each day that respondents saw these advertisements (most days for most advertisement types), substantial minorities reported increased size and frequency of betting. Results did not vary by gambler risk group. Understanding which types of wagering advertising are associated with most gambling-related harm can inform advertising regulations, targeted public health interventions, and future research.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 23-08-2022
DOI: 10.2196/38958
Abstract: The presence of discrete but fluctuating precipitants, in combination with the dynamic nature of gambling episodes, calls for the development of tailored interventions delivered in real time, such as just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs). JITAIs leverage mobile and wireless technologies to address dynamically changing in idual needs by providing the type and amount of support required at the right time and only when needed. They have the added benefit of reaching underserved populations by providing accessible, convenient, and low-burden support. Despite these benefits, few JITAIs targeting gambling behavior are available. This study aims to redress this gap in service provision by developing and evaluating a theoretically informed and evidence-based JITAI for people who want to reduce their gambling. Delivered via a smartphone app, GamblingLess: In-The-Moment provides tailored cognitive-behavioral and third-wave interventions targeting cognitive processes explicated by the relapse prevention model (cravings, self-efficacy, and positive outcome expectancies). It aims to reduce gambling symptom severity (distal outcome) through short-term reductions in the likelihood of gambling episodes (primary proximal outcome) by improving craving intensity, self-efficacy, or expectancies (secondary proximal outcomes). The primary aim is to explore the degree to which the delivery of a tailored intervention at a time of cognitive vulnerability reduces the probability of a subsequent gambling episode. GamblingLess: In-The-Moment interventions are delivered to gamblers who are in a state of receptivity (available for treatment) and report a state of cognitive vulnerability via ecological momentary assessments 3 times a day. The JITAI will tailor the type, timing, and amount of support for in idual needs. Using a microrandomized trial, a form of sequential factorial design, each eligible participant will be randomized to a tailored intervention condition or no intervention control condition at each ecological momentary assessment across a 28-day period. The microrandomized trial will be supplemented by a 6-month within-group follow-up evaluation to explore long-term effects on primary (gambling symptom severity) and secondary (gambling behavior, craving severity, self-efficacy, and expectancies) outcomes and an acceptability evaluation via postintervention surveys, app use and engagement indices, and semistructured interviews. In all, 200 participants will be recruited from Australia and New Zealand. The project was funded in June 2019, with approval from the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2020-304). Stakeholder user testing revealed high acceptability scores. The trial began on March 29, 2022, and 84 participants have been recruited (as of June 24, 2022). Results are expected to be published mid-2024. GamblingLess: In-The-Moment forms part of a suite of theoretically informed and evidence-based web-based and mobile gambling interventions. This trial will provide important empirical data that can be used to facilitate the JITAI’s optimization to make it a more effective, efficient, and scalable tailored intervention. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12622000490774 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380757& isClinicalTrial=False PRR1-10.2196/38958
No related grants have been discovered for Anna Thomas.