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The Victorian Gambling Study (VGS) a Longitudinal Study of Gambling and Health in Victoria 2008–2012: Design and Methods

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Abstract

The Victorian Gambling Study 2008–2012 (VGS) is a large, multi-design study of gambling among Victorian adults aged 18 and older at baseline. The objectives were to estimate prevalence and incidence, investigate gambling risk transitions, identify risk factors and explore gambling and health. The VGS will provide an evidence base for strategies and programs to prevent problem gambling. This paper provides an overview of the VGS design. The cross sectional study of 15,000 Victorians was conducted in 2008 using a stratified random sampling procedure. Computer assisted telephone interviewing was the contact method employed. Participants who agreed to follow-up were re-interviewed in 2009 (n = 5,003), in 2010–2011 (n = 5,620) and in 2011–2012 (n = 3,701). A qualitative study of a subset was undertaken between waves three and four. The study benefitted from input from our panel of international experts and it is our intention to pass on the learnings from such a large and complex study.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Damien Jolley, Elmer Villanueva, Paul Marden, Sarah Hare, Jan McMillen, Rachel Volberg and Penny Marshall for their expertise in guiding the VGS. We acknowledge the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and the Victorian Department of Justice for funding and support.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Declarations

Christine Stone and Max Abbott receive funding from the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation to work on the Victorian Gambling Study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, PO Box 2156, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Rosa Billi, Christine A. Stone & Kristal Yeung

  2. Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    Max Abbott

Authors
  1. Rosa Billi
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  2. Christine A. Stone
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  3. Max Abbott
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  4. Kristal Yeung
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Correspondence to Rosa Billi.

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Billi, R., Stone, C.A., Abbott, M. et al. The Victorian Gambling Study (VGS) a Longitudinal Study of Gambling and Health in Victoria 2008–2012: Design and Methods. Int J Ment Health Addiction 13, 274–296 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-014-9528-8

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