Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Human Factors
Date Submitted: Sep 2, 2024
Date Accepted: Jan 8, 2025
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Exploring the effects and constraints of a nationwide Self-Exclusion Service for Gambling Disorder “Spelpaus”: A qualitative interview study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Problem gambling and gambling disorder cause severe social, psychiatric and financial consequences, and voluntary self-exclusion is a common harm reduction tool used by individuals with gambling problems.
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to explore the lived experience of a novel nationwide, multi-operator gambling self-exclusion in Sweden, and to inform stakeholders and policymakers in order to improve harm reduction tools against gambling problems.
Methods:
Semi-structured interview were conducted with 15 individuals who reported self-perceived gambling problems, and who had experience of having used the self-exclusion service Spelpaus in Sweden. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed through qualitative conent analysis.
Results:
Three categories and eight subcategories were identified. The categories were; a) Reasons behind the decision to self-exclude, b) Positive experiences, and c) Suggestions for improvement. Sub-categories identified a number of reasons for self-exclusion such as for financial reasons and for family reasons, positive experiences described as a relief from gambling, but also important suggestions for improvement are cited, such as a more gradual return to gambling post-self-exclusion, better ways to address loopholes in the system, and transfer from self-exclusion to treatment.
Conclusions:
Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling, using a nationwide multi-operator service, remains an appreciated harm-reducing tool in gamblers but potential improvements are identified. Clinical Trial: clinicatrials.gov, NCT05693155
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