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Short questionnaires effective in identifying, helping problem gamblers, says Alberta study
Administering short “yes or no” questionnaires are a quick and effective way to identify problem gamblers, according to a study out of Alberta. David Hodgins, a psychology professor with the University of Calgary, recently published research findings in The Lancet medical journal which stated quick, concise surveys can be used to accurately identify respondents with gaming addictions, and assist them towards recovery.
"Training practitioners in different sectors to be able to do brief, quick and easy screening for gambling problems would be very helpful," Hodgins said in an interview with the Winnipeg Free Press, adding the questionnaire could be used by a wide spread of professionals, from bankers to doctors.
In one example culled from Hodgins's research, a screening tool asked subjects three questions, including if they have ever tried to cut down or control their gambling, if they have ever lied to family members about the extent of their gambling, and if they have ever spent long periods of time thinking about or planning gambling activities.
Explained Hodgins: "If individuals answer positively to any one of those items, then that's a pretty good indicator that there's a problem, and a suggestion that they may want to talk further with someone about their gambling issue is warranted."
Hodgins added similar conversations could be effective in motivating problem gamblers to seek help or treatments from sources they may not have been aware of prior to the survey.
Reflecting on Hodgins's research, Nina Littman-Sharp, manager of the problem gambling service at the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, told the Winnipeg Free Press there's a place for simple prescreens such as those suggested in Hodgins's stufy, but that questionnaires should not be considered a full-on replacement for professional assessments or diagnoses. Clarifying further, she noted the questionnaires could still be an effective way of preventing some gamblers from succumbing further to their addictions, adding not all cases require years of therapy.
According to Hodgins, only 1% of Canadians are considered “pathological gamblers”, and only 2% considered “problem gamblers”.
[Source: Winnipeg Free Press]
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