[Gamblers seeking for help].
OBJECTIVE
To describe demographic characteristics and other health and gambling related dimensions of a sample of callers to the Helpline Service of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.


METHODS
Helpline callers were surveyed during a six month period (November, 2006 to April, 2007). The phone interviews were conducted by health professionals and had both a structured and an open section. The structured section included, among other items, the following instruments: South Oaks Gambling Screen -SOGS-, Screen for Gambling Problems National Opinion Research Center -NORD-, CAGE inventory, Brief Inventory for Pathological Gambling -CBJP- and the Evaluator Clinical Global Impression Scale -E-CGIS-.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty eight calls were received during the study period. Ninety four calls (73.4%) were made by gamblers, 52.1% of which were females and 47.9% were males; the age means were 52 and 43 respectively. The mean values obtained with the instruments were the following: NORD, 5,3; SOGS, 5,3; CBJP, 2,4 and E-CGIS, 4. Approximately, 9% of the sample did not satisfy the criteria for pathological gambling diagnosis and 11% reported to have had little or not detriment at all due to gambling. The findings support the theory that the helpline might have a preventive effect at early stages of the course of pathological gambling and provide empirical bases for appropriate service planning.
Programa de Prevencion del Juego Patologico del Instituto de Juegos de Apuestas de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. pabait@speedy.com.ar
Patricia E
PE
Abait
Jorge O
JO
Folino
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*