Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

The prevalence of problem gambling (PG) among low income persons in Canada is up to 9 times higher than within the general population. PG is associated with other health and social needs such as homelessness, disability, substance use and mental illness. There is a lack of services available to provide PG care either as a standalone service or as part of an integrated care approach. Previous work by our team identified self-management as an important element of treatment, including the potential of technology in self-managed care. In response, a team of experts is co-developing a free and first-of-its-kind Smartphone/web app to help persons in vulnerable populations self-manage their PG and other complex needs. By collecting client information the app will be able to detect potential crisis situations and push supportive content to the user, such as an option to connect with social supports, a reminder of a PG-related goal or other resources such as self-help materials, gambling facts and motivational quotes. The app will be introduced to clients within the context of existing PG programming/case management as a way to encourage uptake, and then used by clients independently to self-manage post-treatment. It is expected that the technology will facilitate client self-management, improve client outcomes relating to PG and other complex needs and enhance client-provider communication. Lastly, we will work with commercial, service and technical partners towards delivery of a robust and fully substantiated product, with high quality data to support use of the app within target populations and more generally in those affected by problem gambling. There is ample opportunity for the app to be commercialized and incorporated into the Canadian healthcare and social service systems and applied to the treatment and self-management of PG and related health/social problems; a necessity in a sparse treatment environment marked by long wait lists.