PRoGRAM-A is peer-led, social network intervention to protect young people, their friends and family members from gambling related harm. Summary (Research in a nutshell) Image PRoGRAM-A team photo including 8 team members at the set up meeting Young people often spend their free time online, where they are more likely to see online gambling marketing, which may encourage them to gamble. A 2019 survey found that 11% of 11-16 year olds within the UK had gambled in the past seven days. While this figure has remained stable over recent years, it is double that for other risk-taking behaviours such as smoking (6%) or drug taking (5%). Gambling in young people is concerning because research shows that gambling at a younger age can increase the risk of future gambling harm. Research has also shown an increase in the number of young people experiencing problem gambling. In 2019, it was estimated that around 1.7% (55,000) of young people aged 11-15 experienced problem gambling, increasing from 0.4% in 2016. Problem gambling can lead to stress and anxiety, relationship breakdown, debt, and the loss of current and future opportunities. We want to protect young people from future gambling harm. We plan to do this by helping them understand what gambling is, recognise the many forms that gambling can take, and understand the potential harm it can cause. We have developed a secondary school programme called PRoGRAM-A (Preventing Gambling Related Harm in Adolescents). We now want to test PRoGRAM-A in more schools to find out it how could it work in the real world. The study will take place in six schools, four will be randomly picked to receive PRoGRAM-A and two will act as a control continuing with their usual activities. Alongside this we will look at how well the program works and how cost effective it is. The aim of this study is to test the delivery of PRoGRAM-A and to decide whether further investment should be made to conduct a bigger study, which would look at how effective this programme is and what it will cost. Key People Name Role Fiona Dobbie Principal Investigator, University of Edinburgh Martine Miller Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh Angela Niven Project Manager, University of Edinburgh Leon Noble Research Assistant, University of Edinburgh Christopher Weir Co-Investigator, University of Edinburgh James White Co-Investigator, University of Cardiff Andy Stoddart Co-Investigator, University of Edinburgh Heather Wardle Co-Investigator, University of Glasgow Dave Griffiths Co-Investigator, University of Stirling Richard Purves Research Fellow, University of Stirling Conor Maxwell Co-Investigator, Larkhall Universal Connections Hannah Ensor Statistitcian, University of Edinburgh Christopher White Data Manager, University of Edinburgh Contact program.a@ed.ac.uk Key Publications 2024 Dobbie, F., Miller, M., Wardle, H. et al. Protocol for a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial of PRoGRAM-A (preventing gambling-related harm in adolescents): a secondary school-based social network intervention. Pilot Feasibility Stud 10, 109 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01537-w Key Collaborations Evidence to Impact - Sally Good, Paul Harrod, Ashley Lee Fast Forward – Francesca Howard Partners University of Glasgow University of Stirling Cardiff University Funder NIHR Public Health Research Timeline Start date: March 2023 End date: August 2024 (extended to November 2024) Scientific themes (keywords) Gambling harm, adolescents, social norms, diffusion theory Methodology keywords Cluster randomised control trial (cRCT), process evaluation, health economics analysis, social network analysis, pilot study, qualitative, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, fieldwork, PPI, baseline & follow up surveys, intervention, peer supporters This article was published on 2024-09-24
