For at-risk and pathological gamblers, seeking help is a complex process that raises the necessity of developing innovative intervention models better adapted to their needs.
In addition, to promote the use of available resources, attention should be paid to the content of advertising for treatment services in order to render it more relevant in the eyes of gamblers in difficulty.
The results highlighted the importance of making information available for gamblers.
The aims of this research project were twofold. The first aim was to increase knowledge of the process for seeking help among gamblers by examining their views on what content should be used to create effective advertising for gambling treatments.
Second, the research rigorously evaluated the efficacy of a new self-help treatment program called JEu me questionne (JMQ). JMQ is a flexible user-friendly program that allows at-risk and pathological gamblers to advance at their own pace through the completion of a self-help treatment workbook and motivational phone interviews with a therapist.
The results highlighted the importance of making information available in order to help gamblers recognize problem gambling and encourage them to seek help. Several suggestions were made by the respondents regarding the content of advertising for gambling treatment. These suggestions, some of which contradict one another, deserve further study into their effectiveness and any possible detrimental effects.
With regard to the JMQ program, the results demonstrated its effectiveness at reducing the severity of gambling problems and habits among participants. These therapeutic benefits were seen on the short and medium term, suggesting that JMQ could be a positive addition to the treatment services currently offered for pathological gamblers.
Main researcher
Isabelle Giroux, Université Laval
Deposit of the research report: November 2015