A scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harm

Abstract Gambling harm is a global public health challenge. Gambling is often recorded in settings using routinely collected data (RCD). Linking of existing RCD affords numerous opportunities for policy-led research on gambling harm and early intervention. To date, no previous review has examined re...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pippa Boering, Matthew Jones, Kishan Patel, Daniel Leightley, Simon Dymond
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:npj Digital Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01713-z
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850225756481781760
author Pippa Boering
Matthew Jones
Kishan Patel
Daniel Leightley
Simon Dymond
author_facet Pippa Boering
Matthew Jones
Kishan Patel
Daniel Leightley
Simon Dymond
author_sort Pippa Boering
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gambling harm is a global public health challenge. Gambling is often recorded in settings using routinely collected data (RCD). Linking of existing RCD affords numerous opportunities for policy-led research on gambling harm and early intervention. To date, no previous review has examined research describing data linkage of RCD and gambling. Here, we searched for peer-reviewed articles using data linkage methodology with RCD and measures of gambling, gambling harm, or health-related outcomes. After screening 2373 articles, we conducted a narrative synthesis of the 17 included articles. Studies described data from 2,136,966 individuals, most originated from Nordic countries, adopted a range of experimental designs, tended to link individual-level data with risk factors for physical and mental health harms, and defined gambling in diverse ways. Study quality was mixed. There exist numerous opportunities for further data linkage studies with RCD to both inform public policy and understand population-wide changes in gambling.
format Article
id doaj-art-350ae6fd6cd5493cb901fc481768c8b2
institution OA Journals
issn 2398-6352
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Digital Medicine
spelling doaj-art-350ae6fd6cd5493cb901fc481768c8b22025-08-20T02:05:16ZengNature Portfolionpj Digital Medicine2398-63522025-06-018111410.1038/s41746-025-01713-zA scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harmPippa Boering0Matthew Jones1Kishan Patel2Daniel Leightley3Simon Dymond4School of Psychology, Swansea UniversitySchool of Psychology, Swansea UniversityGambling Harm UKDepartment of Population Health Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College LondonSchool of Psychology, Swansea UniversityAbstract Gambling harm is a global public health challenge. Gambling is often recorded in settings using routinely collected data (RCD). Linking of existing RCD affords numerous opportunities for policy-led research on gambling harm and early intervention. To date, no previous review has examined research describing data linkage of RCD and gambling. Here, we searched for peer-reviewed articles using data linkage methodology with RCD and measures of gambling, gambling harm, or health-related outcomes. After screening 2373 articles, we conducted a narrative synthesis of the 17 included articles. Studies described data from 2,136,966 individuals, most originated from Nordic countries, adopted a range of experimental designs, tended to link individual-level data with risk factors for physical and mental health harms, and defined gambling in diverse ways. Study quality was mixed. There exist numerous opportunities for further data linkage studies with RCD to both inform public policy and understand population-wide changes in gambling.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01713-z
spellingShingle Pippa Boering
Matthew Jones
Kishan Patel
Daniel Leightley
Simon Dymond
A scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harm
npj Digital Medicine
title A scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harm
title_full A scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harm
title_fullStr A scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harm
title_full_unstemmed A scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harm
title_short A scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harm
title_sort scoping review of routinely collected linked data in research on gambling harm
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01713-z
work_keys_str_mv AT pippaboering ascopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm
AT matthewjones ascopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm
AT kishanpatel ascopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm
AT danielleightley ascopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm
AT simondymond ascopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm
AT pippaboering scopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm
AT matthewjones scopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm
AT kishanpatel scopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm
AT danielleightley scopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm
AT simondymond scopingreviewofroutinelycollectedlinkeddatainresearchongamblingharm