None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of the study is to pilot a relapse prevention initiative among two groups of Asian international students (Chinese and South Asian) who have experience of harmful gambling. We hypothesize that the risks of relapsing among Asian international students with problem gambling issues are high due to their limited social contact with others, inadequate social skills and ambivalence towards personal goals. Using mental health recovery principles in a peer support environment, participants will take part in a structured and supportive group programme which incorporates content related to self-understanding, peer support and relapse prevention strategies. The effectiveness of the programme to minimise the risk of relapse will be assessed by analysing pre-post changes in harmful gambling behaviour, help-seeking behaviour, attitudes towards harmful gambling, knowledge of the triggers of relapse of harmful gambling, and skills in stress management.
Interventions
Brief name: Relapse prevention intervention
Eight weekly 1½ hour sessions of group programme which incorporates content related to self-understanding, peer support and relapse prevention strategies. (1) Group formation: participants share expectations and begin self-discovery journey; (2) Explore cultural beliefs and common concerns in life in the context of challenges for international students; (3) Gain knowledge about features of harmful gambling and learn how to set healthy boundaries to sta
Brief name: Relapse prevention intervention Eight weekly 1½ hour sessions of group programme which incorporates content related to self-understanding, peer support and relapse prevention strategies. (1) Group formation: participants share expectations and begin self-discovery journey; (2) Explore cultural beliefs and common concerns in life in the context of challenges for international students; (3) Gain knowledge about features of harmful gambling and learn how to set healthy boundaries to stay away from gambling; (4) Start to develop a wellness plan: explore strategies for stress management, learn mindfulness and affirm personal strengths through peer support; (5) Further develop the wellness plan encompassing wider social and environmental factors (e.g. friends, families and communities who they can rely on to provide support); (6) Identify the triggers of relapse of harmful gambling and incorporate strategies for managing gambling urges and cravings into the wellness plan; (7) Learn healthy alternative activities to engage in to enhance wellbeing and where to seek support in New Zealand; (8) Evaluation, future hopes and dreams. Activities to be completed in the group intervention sessions will include educational sessions, individual exercises, team-work and open discussion of topics. A maximum of 8 participants will be included in a group intervention session. Each participant will be provided with a booklet to keep their attendance and changes made over the duration of the intervention. The intervention will be delivered by qualified counsellors and social workers (registered with either the New Zealand Association of Counsellors, Social Worker Registration Board New Zealand or the Drug and Alcohol Practitioners' Association Aotearoa New Zealand) who can speak English, Mandarin and Cantonese (for the group with Chinese international students) or English and Hindi (for the group with South Asian international students) and with minimum 5 years’ experience in the areas of gambling addiction and mental health. Group sessions will be held in a room at Asian Family Services premises where privacy can be maximised.
Sponsors
Dr Elsie Ho
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 34 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
International students studying at tertiary education institutions in the Auckland region, aged 18 years or over, self-identify as Chinese or South Asian (e.g. Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, or any other South Asian sub-groups), have experience of gambling-related problems and are interested in reducing or stopping the gambling behaviour causing harm
Exclusion criteria
Non-Chinese, non-South Asian international students; aged under 18 years; not studying at a university, polytechnic or language school; not living in the Auckland region; have not gambled in the past 12 months and a PGSI score of 2 or below.
Outcome results
None listed