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Design and Methods of the New Zealand National Gambling Study, a Prospective Cohort Study of Gambling and Health: 2012–2019

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Abstract

This paper describes the design, sampling, recruitment, and data analysis of the prospective, nationally representative New Zealand National Gambling Study. Particular aspects of the study were critical for its success as a longitudinal epidemiologic study, making its methodology beneficial for replication in other jurisdictions. At baseline (2012), 6251 adults were interviewed and followed-up in 2013, 2014, and 2015. An additional cohort of 106 moderate-risk/problem gamblers interviewed at baseline (2014–2015) and follow-up (2015–2016) increased the number of these groups in the study. Measures included gambling commencement, gambling frequency, gambling risk levels, at-risk and problem gambling development (incidence), comorbidity, problem gambling cessation, and relapse. Future stages include a follow-up assessment in 2019 and a qualitative study. The study design enables assessment of population and individual level changes and transitions over time, identification of risk and protective factors, and comparisons with previous similarly designed prospective studies. Methods for enhancing response rates and retention are discussed.

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Notes

  1. “Usual residents” excluded people who were present within the dwelling at the time of interview but who usually resided elsewhere.

  2. “Permanent, private dwelling” was defined as either a separate house or two or more houses or flats joined together or a flat or house joined to a business or shop, or a bach, crib, or hut (as long as they were not attached to a work camp), that were used as private dwellings.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank National Research Bureau staff who conducted the fieldwork and Dr. Stuart Mundy-McPherson for his contributions to the conduct of the study and collating information for this article.

Funding

The New Zealand Ministry of Health funded the study (Contract numbers 335667, 349827/00, and 349827).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    Max Abbott, Maria Bellringer & Komathi Kolandai-Matchett

  2. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    Nick Garrett

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  1. Max Abbott
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  2. Maria Bellringer
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  4. Komathi Kolandai-Matchett
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Correspondence to Max Abbott.

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Abbott, M., Bellringer, M., Garrett, N. et al. Design and Methods of the New Zealand National Gambling Study, a Prospective Cohort Study of Gambling and Health: 2012–2019. Int J Ment Health Addiction 15, 1242–1269 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9843-y

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