A scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harm

Abstract

Gambling harm is a global public health challenge. Gambling is often recorded in settings using routinely collected data (RCD). Linking of existing RCD affords numerous opportunities for policy-led research on gambling harm and early intervention. To date, no previous review has examined research describing data linkage of RCD and gambling. Here, we searched for peer-reviewed articles using data linkage methodology with RCD and measures of gambling, gambling harm, or health-related outcomes. After screening 2373 articles, we conducted a narrative synthesis of the 17 included articles. Studies described data from 2,136,966 individuals, most originated from Nordic countries, adopted a range of experimental designs, tended to link individual-level data with risk factors for physical and mental health harms, and defined gambling in diverse ways. Study quality was mixed. There exist numerous opportunities for further data linkage studies with RCD to both inform public policy and understand population-wide changes in gambling.