Help on demand: a self-help app for gambling problems

Help on demand: pilot testing of a personalized gambling self-help smartphone app

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN10990330

Enrollment

270

Registered

2024-10-25

Start date

2024-09-16

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2024-11-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Gambling disorder Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

This study will employ two treatment conditions: SA (static app) and PA (personalized app). Both groups will have access to the self-help app for 8 weeks. Participants in the SA group (static app) wi

PA), stratified by sex (male, female, other), gambling problem severity (

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. 18 years of age or older at the point of enrolment 2. Currently residing in Canada 3. Not currently receiving professional treatment for gambling problems 4. Gambled at least once in the past month 5. Currently has at least a moderate gambling problem (as determined by eligibility screening questionnaire)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Does not own an Apple or Android smartphone (and therefore cannot download the app) 2. Does not have access to the internet

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Objective user engagement is measured using the following usage data from the app: a) total time spent in the app; b) completion status of activities; and c) total number of app logins, after treatment completion at 8 weeks 2. Subjective user engagement is measured using the Mobile App Rating Scale - User Version (uMARS) at treatment completion at 8 weeks	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
The following secondary outcome measures are assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 3, 6, and 12 months: 1. Past month gambling expenditures measured using retrospective self-report 2. Gambling problem severity measured using the the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) Diagnostic Screen for DSM-5 Gambling Disorder (NODS-GD) 3. General psychological distress measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) 4. Anxiety symptoms measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) 5. Depression symptoms measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) 6. Alcohol use measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption questions (AUDIT-C) 7. Cannabis use measured using the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test (CUDIT)	—

Measure

Time frame

The following secondary outcome measures are assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 3, 6, and 12 months: 1. Past month gambling expenditures measured using retrospective self-report 2. Gambling problem severity measured using the the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) Diagnostic Screen for DSM-5 Gambling Disorder (NODS-GD) 3. General psychological distress measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) 4. Anxiety symptoms measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) 5. Depression symptoms measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) 6. Alcohol use measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption questions (AUDIT-C) 7. Cannabis use measured using the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test (CUDIT)

—

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Public ContactBrad Brazeau

brad.brazeau@ucalgary.ca+1 403-210-9500

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026