Poker playing among women: Understanding factors associated with gambling problems

Abstract: Poker players are at high risk of experiencing gambling problems. Despite the feminization of gambling, little is known about the problems associated with poker playing among women. This cross-sectional study aims to examine relationships between gambling problems and factors generally associated with gambling problems (gambling behaviours, substance use and mental health) among women poker players. A total of 46 women were recruited through a broader prospective cohort study from the province of Québec, Canada. The outcome variable of interest was participants' scores on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI); the predictive variables were gambling behaviours, alcohol and drug misuse (DEBA-Alcohol and drugs) and mental health (Beck anxiety and depression). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that the factors associated with gambling problems among women poker players are distinct from those of men. For women, severity of gambling problems is positively associated with Internet poker playing, playing slot machines and smoking cigarettes (p < .05). However, among these women, alcohol and drug misuse and mental health are not associated with gambling problems. Therefore, it is important to understand the risks associated with women poker players to develop preventive strategies adapted for this population and to adjust interventions accordingly.Les joueurs de poker sont une population à risque de présenter des problèmes de jeu.Malgré la féminisation des jeux de hasard et d’argent (JHA), les connaissances sontlimitées quant aux problèmes liés au poker chez les femmes. Cette étude transversalevise à documenter le lien entre les problèmes de jeu et les facteurs généralementassociés aux problèmes de jeu (comportements de jeu, consommation de substanceset santé mentale) chez les joueuses de poker. Au total, 46 femmes ont été recrutéesdans le cadre d’une étude de cohorte prospective plus large réalisée dans la provincede Québec, au Canada. Le score à l’Indice Canadien du Jeu Excessif (ICJE) était lavariable dépendante; les variables prédictives étaient les comportements de jeu,l’abus d’alcool et de drogues (DEBA-Alcool et Drogues) et la santé mentale(Inventaire d’anxiété et de dépression de Beck). Les analyses de régression logistiqueont révélé que les facteurs associés aux problèmes de jeu chez les joueuses de pokersont distincts de ceux des hommes. Pour les femmes, la gravité des problèmes de jeuest positivement associée à jouer au poker sur Internet, à jouer aux machines à souset à fumer des cigarettes (po0,05). Toutefois, chez ces femmes, ni l’abus d’alcool etde drogues, ni la santé mentale ne sont pas associés aux problèmes de jeu. Il est doncimportant de comprendre les risques associés aux problèmes de jeu chez les joueusesde poker afin de développer des stratégies de prévention adaptées à cette populationet d’ajuster les interventions en conséquence

Once online poker, always online poker? Poker modality trajectories over two years

Online poker is considered more at-risk than land-based poker in terms of intense gambling behaviors and gambling problems. The development of many online gambling sites has raised public health concerns about the potential increase in online poker players. Longitudinal studies are useful to better understand the evolution of gambling behaviors; however, very few consider online poker players. Using a prospective design, this study aims to identify online and land-based trajectories over a two-year period and the factors influencing those trajectories. Results are based on data collected at three time-points over the course of a prospective cohort study conducted in Quebec (n=304). A latent class growth analysis was performed to determine trajectories based on the main poker modality played, either online or land-based poker. Multinomial multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the correlates of poker playing trajectories. Over two years, three poker playing trajectories were identified, comprising two stable trajectories [stable land-based (51.5%) and stable online (36.3%)] and an unstable trajectory [unstable online land-based (12.1%)]. The second trajectory included online poker players at baseline who transitioned to land-based poker. Number of gambling activities increased the odds of being in the first trajectory as compared to the others. Severity of gambling problems was a significant predictor of the second "unstable" or the third "stable online" trajectories, but not for the first “stable land-based” poker trajectory. The majority of poker players remained in either the land-based or online trajectories over two years. No poker players transitioned from land-based to online poker

La santé psychologique et la conciliation travail-famille des infirmières en soins ambulatoires à l’ère de la COVID-19 : résultats d’une enquête

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted nurses’ psychological health and work-family balance, including in ambulatory care settings. The results presented in this article are part of a study aiming to describe and contextualize the psychological health and changes in nurses’ follow-up practices in Quebec (Canada) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: Explore and describe factors that influenced ambulatory care nurses’ psychological health and work-family balance during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Exploratory mixed data cross-sectional study using the SurveyMonkey platform. We collected data from July 2020 to September 2020. The target population comprised all practicing nurses in Quebec whose clinical activities included the follow-up of ambulatory patients, 200 of whom completed the survey.&nbsp; Results: Multiple linear regression models indicated that anxiety (GAD-7 scores) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores) were associated with younger age, living alone, worries about transmitting COVID-19, and feeling that one’s work was not coherent with one’s values. Work-family balance was considered more difficult than before the pandemic by 54.5 % of participants. Factors perceived as influencing work-family balance were either related to work conditions (e.g., schedule and time at work, access to work from home, redeployment to another work setting), to family-related responsibilities/tasks or were specific to the pandemic. Discussion and conclusion: Apart from age, the feeling that one’s work was not coherent with their values was the only variable correlated with both GAD-7 and PHQ-9 in multivariate models. Further research should investigate the relationships between sense of coherence, psychological health, and work conditions like schedule flexibility and access to work from home.Introduction : La pandémie a eu des répercussions sur la santé psychologique et la conciliation travail-famille des infirmières, y compris dans les milieux de soins ambulatoires. Les résultats présentés dans cet article font partie d’une étude visant à décrire et contextualiser la santé psychologique et l’évolution des pratiques de suivi infirmier au Québec (Canada) lors de la pandémie de COVID-19. Objectif : Explorer et décrire les facteurs qui ont influencé la santé psychologique et la conciliation travail-famille des infirmières en soins ambulatoires pendant la première vague de la pandémie de COVID-19. Méthodes&nbsp;: Enquête exploratoire avec données mixtes par le biais de la plateforme SurveyMonkey. Les données ont été collectées de juillet 2020 à septembre 2020. La population cible était toutes les infirmières du Québec dont les activités cliniques incluaient le suivi de patients ambulatoires&nbsp;; 200 infirmières ont participé. Résultats : Les modèles de régression ont indiqué que les symptômes anxieux (scores au GAD-7) et dépressifs (scores au PHQ-9) étaient associés à un plus jeune âge, au fait de vivre seul, aux inquiétudes concernant la transmission de la COVID-19 et au sentiment que son travail n’était pas cohérent avec ses valeurs. La conciliation travail-famille était jugée plus difficile qu’avant la pandémie par 54,5 % des participants. Les facteurs perçus comme l’influençant étaient soit liés aux conditions de travail (p. ex., horaire et temps de travail, télétravail, délestage), aux tâches familiales, ou étaient spécifiques à la pandémie. Discussion et conclusion : Outre l’âge, le sentiment que son travail n’était pas cohérent avec ses valeurs était la seule variable corrélée à la fois avec le GAD-7 et le PHQ-9. Les futures recherches devraient s’intéresser à la relation entre le sentiment de cohérence, la santé psychologique et les conditions de travail favorables à la conciliation travail-famille

The Psychological Health and Work-Family Balance of Ambulatory Care Nurses in the COVID-19 era: a Cross-Sectional Survey

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted nurses’ psychological health and work-family balance, including in ambulatory care settings. The results presented in this article are part of a study aiming to describe and contextualize the psychological health and changes in nurses’ follow-up practices in Quebec (Canada) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: Explore and describe factors that influenced ambulatory care nurses’ psychological health and work-family balance during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Exploratory mixed data cross-sectional study using the SurveyMonkey platform. We collected data from July 2020 to September 2020. The target population comprised all practicing nurses in Quebec whose clinical activities included the follow-up of ambulatory patients, 200 of whom completed the survey.  Results: Multiple linear regression models indicated that anxiety (GAD-7 scores) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores) were associated with younger age, living alone, worries about transmitting COVID-19, and feeling that one’s work was not coherent with one’s values. Work-family balance was considered more difficult than before the pandemic by 54.5 % of participants. Factors perceived as influencing work-family balance were either related to work conditions (e.g., schedule and time at work, access to work from home, redeployment to another work setting), to family-related responsibilities/tasks or were specific to the pandemic. Discussion and conclusion: Apart from age, the feeling that one’s work was not coherent with their values was the only variable correlated with both GAD-7 and PHQ-9 in multivariate models. Further research should investigate the relationships between sense of coherence, psychological health, and work conditions like schedule flexibility and access to work from home

Predictors of residential stability among homeless young adults : a cohort study.

Abstract : BACKGROUND: Homelessness episodes have been shown to be associated with serious health outcomes among youth. This study was undertaken to estimate the probability of reaching residential stability over time and to identify predictors of residential stability among homeless young adults aged 18 to 25 years. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out in Montréal, Canada, between April 5(th) 2006 and January 21(th) 2009. Interviews conducted every three months included questions on life conditions and social and mental health factors that are known to influence residential trajectories. Residential status was determined, starting on the first day after recruitment; each follow-up day was classified as a homeless day or a housed day. A period of 90 days was used to define residential stability; therefore the main study outcome was the occurrence of the first consecutive 90 housed days during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Of the 359 participants, 284 reached 90 days of residential stability over the study period, representing an annual probability of 80.5 %. In multivariate analysis, youth who had a high school degree, had a formal sector activity, and those who had sought psychological help were more likely to reach residential stability. Being a man, injecting substances, and having an informal sector activity were associated with a decreased probability to reach residential stability. CONCLUSION: Exposure to factors related to opportunities that promote social integration increases the chance of reaching residential stability. On the other hand, factors related to high level of street entrenchment seem to interfere with stabilization. Maximum efforts should be made to prevent chronic homelessness among youth, targeting not only individual impairments but also hinging on services adapted to foster social connections among the youth

Gambling Problems among Community Cocaine Users

Cocaine use is highly prevalent and a major public health problem. While some studies have reported frequent comorbidity problems among cocaine users, few studies have included evaluation of gambling problems. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of gambling problems and compare those who were at-risk gamblers with non-problem gamblers in terms of mental health problems, substance use problems, and some risk factors (i.e. family antecedents, erroneous perceptions and coping strategies) among individuals who smoke or inject cocaine. METHOD: A total of 424 smoked or injected cocaine users recruited through community-based programs in Montreal, Quebec completed the questionnaire, including the Canadian Pathological Gambling Index, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), the CAGE, and the Severity Dependence Scale (SDS). RESULTS: Of the sample, 18.4 % were considered at-risk gamblers, of whom 7.8 % had problems gambling and 10.6 % were moderate-risk gamblers. The at-risk group was more likely to have experienced a recent phobic disorder and alcohol problems than the non-problem group. A multivariate analysis showed that, compared to those who were non-problem gamblers, the at-risk ones were more likely to have lost a large sum of money when they first started gambling, believed that their luck would turn, and gambled in reaction to painful life events. These results indicate the need to include routines for screening to identify gambling problem among cocaine user

Prevalence and correlates of prescription opioid residue injection

Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence of intravenous administration of prescription opioids (POs) in several countries. Preparation of POs for injection may leave residues in containers and filters used by people who inject drugs and may lead to adverse health outcomes if they are injected. METHODS: This exploratory study used cross-sectional data from the COSMO study, a prospective cohort of out-of-treatment cocaine users carried out in Montréal (Canada) between October 2010 and August 2015. For this analysis, only one visit per participant was selected, that is, the first time the participant reported PO injection during the study. The outcome of interest, "injection of PO residues", was defined as having injected PO residues from a filter and/or a container in the last month. Correlates of this outcome were identified using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 122 participants who reported PO injection during the study period, 41.8% had injected PO residues. Reporting an unstable source of income (AOR=4.26; 95% CI: 1.03-17.69), a recent overdose (AOR=5.45; 95% CI: 1.50-19.88) and a preponderant use of opiates (mostly opiate use versus other drugs excluding alcohol and cannabis) (AOR=2.46; 95% CI: 1.08-5.63) increased the risk of PO residue injection. The odds of reporting PO residue injection rose by 7% per unit increase in the score of psychological distress (AOR=1.07 per unit increase; 95% CI: 1.01-1.12). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that PO residue injection is associated with markers of vulnerability. Further investigation is needed in order to better understand this understudied drug injection practice