Definition:
A positive integer that is a simple and self-reported estimate, by the client, about the number of years gambling activity has negatively affected his/her life and is collected at the initiation of treatment.
Guide for Use:
These data are collected at the initiation of treatment services. There are 2 data fields to collect the number of years and months. Both fields need to be complete. For example, when the client's estimate is less than one year a numeric value is entered for months only and the number of years is recorded as 0. When the client reports that they have been gambling for the past 10 years, 10 is entered for the year. Both numbers are greater than or equal to zero or less than or equal to 999. "999" is entered in the "Years" field to identify the information is unknown.
This data element is part of the Gambling Data Form used by treatment staff in agencies designated to provide problem gambling treatment. The Gambling Data Form should be completed as close as possible to the time of initiation of treatment services by the agency to the client.
Context:
- Used to monitor comparative service utilization patterns by residents in districts and regions, and
to flag inequities across districts and regions. - Assists in understanding the unique and potentially complex needs and service demands of a
client admitted to problem gambling treatment/services. - Used to develop client typologies/profiles for service planning and delivery for both the client
and the treatment population. - Used to provide an indication of the number of years the client's life has been affected as well as
among those seeking treatment from Ontario's specialized substance abuse and problem
gambling treatment providers. - Assists in understanding the overlap of substance abuse and problem gambling treatment.
Used in conjunction with other Gambling data elements to identify, monitor, determine and
evaluate the patterns, severity and complexity of problem gambling in order to provide for
planning and delivery of treatment services specifically for the client and non-specifically for the specific client and non-specifically for the treatment population. - treatment population across the province.
Assists in developing client and treatment population profiles to determine treatment service
access and availability and identifying additional or enhanced needs or considerations for this
