Gambling Concerns in Primary Care Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Felicity Goodyear-Smith, Bruce Arroll, Ngaire Kerse, Sean Sullivan, Nicole Coupe, Samson Tse, Robin Shepherd, Fiona Rossen, Lana Perese
Primary Institution: The University of Auckland
Hypothesis
Do primary care patients with gambling concerns have co-occurring lifestyle and mental health issues?
Conclusion
The study found that screening for gambling in primary care can identify individuals with multiple co-occurring disorders.
Supporting Evidence
- 3% of patients reported concerns about gambling.
- Patients worried about gambling were more likely to have issues with smoking and substance use.
- Younger patients were more likely to express concerns about gambling.
Takeaway
Some people who worry about gambling also have problems with smoking, drugs, and feeling sad. Doctors can help them with these issues.
Methodology
Cross-sectional study comparing patients worried about gambling with the total screened patient population for co-morbidity.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to low response rates and reliance on self-reported data.
Limitations
The study cannot specify response rates in some centers and used a single question to assess gambling behavior.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 2,536 adult patients from 51 practices in New Zealand, with a mean age of 43 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.04
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.1 to 3.1
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website