This is a measure suggested by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
United Kingdom.- The UK health body, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), has issued a new recommendation for general practitioners (GPs) to ask their patients about gambling-related harm. The guideline suggests that doctors should inquire about gambling "even if there are no evident risk factors for gambling-related harm" to avoid stigma.
It is recommended that questions about gambling be included during general health check-ups, as part of a 'comprehensive assessment', along with questions about tobacco, alcohol, and other substance use. NICE emphasizes that "stigma, shame, and fear of revealing information can prevent people who suffer from gambling-related harm from talking about it and seeking or accessing support and treatment." Moreover, stigma can be a particular problem for certain groups, such as people from marginalized, minority, or underrepresented communities.
The guidelines include recommendations on criteria for problematic gambling, care models, treatment and relapse prevention, and support for friends and family. NICE especially recommends asking about gambling behaviors in patients with mental health issues, such as depression, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as in cases of patients facing homelessness or substance abuse.
See also: The UK government provided details about the plan to review gambling reforms
Doctors are also advised to ask about gambling behaviors if a patient is receiving medications that may affect their impulse control, such as dopamine agonists for Parkinson's disease or aripiprazole for psychosis. The recommendations are being issued to all NHS general practitioners and healthcare commissioners, although it is not mandatory for doctors to apply them. The guidelines are available on the NICE website.
Meanwhile, the charity and industry-backed funding body, GambleAware, has published a new report following research into the risks of harm associated with different types of gambling. The study, conducted by Bournemouth University, found that land-based slot machines posed more risk than online casino games, while loot boxes were also highlighted as risky.
