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STRATEGIC CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT TO ENHANCE TREATMENT OUTCOMES FOR PROBLEM GAMBLERS
Project Approved 2004-05
Beverly West (Principal Investigator)
M.Sc. Candidate, School of Health Sciences, U of Lethbridge
Dr. Robert J. Williams
Professor, School of Health Sciences, U of Lethbridge
In collaboration with the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), the proposed research will evaluate treatment success for problem gamblers receiving regular outpatient treatment, compared to results for problem gamblers receiving regular treatment plus strategic contingency management. The project will add to the treatment and recovery knowledge base, enhance clinical practice, guide future research, and constitute the Principal Investigator's Master's Thesis.
Status (Complete)
The project was finalized on August 15, 2006, and report writing is currently progressing. Project objectives as originally conceived were to examine the effects of contingency management as an add-on to regular treatment, compared to regular treatment alone (with effects identified as treatment retention and outcome). As previously indicated, a methodological change was required due to low recruitment numbers. Despite efforts to increase recruitment, numbers remained low at both sites. The research process continued as originally designed, except that follow-up interviews with Lethbridge participants were expanded to comprise in-depth qualitative explorations. As the study progressed, opportunities arose to explore counselor experiences of the research. Given the reduced statistical power inherent in the lower-than-expected sample sizes, quantitative comparison of outcome data for the experimental and control groups was not considered advisable. With the exception of this modification, research objectives were attained. Outcomes for Lethbridge participants were compared to effectiveness of other treatment approaches, and the objective of exploring processes of change was attained in greater depth than originally planned. Wider objectives (to reduce harms from problem gambling by adding to the limited amount of literature on optimal treatment approaches for problem gamblers, by helping expand research directions, and by desiring to enhance clinical practice) were reached on theoretical rather than measurable levels.
Upon thesis completion, a bound copy of the thesis will be made available at the University of Lethbridge Library. Following thesis completion, it is expected that one scholarly article will be submitted to a peer-refereed journal for publication consideration. Also, a final report will be submitted to AADAC and to the Health Quality Council of Alberta.
West, B. (2008). Strategic contingency management to enhance treatment outcomes for problem gamblers (Master's thesis, University of Lethbridge).
The Alberta Gaming Research Institute provides grant funding to support peer-endorsed academic investigations into many aspects of gambling research. The contents, recommendations, and findings of the associated research reports, posted on this website, represent the views of the researcher(s).
Last Updated: 01/25/07
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