Evaluating the Efficacy of Electronic Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (e-SBIRT) for Gambling : An Online Pilot Randomised Trial

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of electronic screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (e-SBIRT) at improving gambling outcomes and increasing help-seeking. Methods: We conducted a two-arm, randomised online pilot trial (n = 83) comparing an e-SBIRT intervention with an active control over 12 weeks. The brief intervention was informed by motivational interviewing and incorporated personalised normative feedback, information provision, and relapse-prevention components. Eligible participants were aged 18 or older, resided in the UK and had scores indicating at least moderate severity gambling. Results: Participants (54 [65.1%] male; mean [SD] age = 40.58 [12.75] years, mean [SD] PGSI = 7.16 [5.58]) in the e-SBIRT and control conditions showed improvements in gambling harms (p = 0.033) and perceived ability to control gambling (p = 0.029). No significant effects of condition assignment or condition x time interactions were observed. However, exploratory analyses of individual model coefficients suggested greater improvement in perceived ability to control gambling among participants receiving e-SBIRT at 12 weeks (p = 0.043). Exploratory analyses also suggested higher rates of help-seeking at 12-week follow-up among participants receiving e-SBIRT. Conclusion: Overall, e-SBIRT did not demonstrate clear advantages over assessment and information provision alone. Further research should prioritise refining intervention components and evaluating SBIRT approaches in settings that better reflect its opportunistic delivery model.