Abstract
Objective
YouthBet.net’s () goal is to prevent gambling problems among youth through an interactive, multimedia website based on a public health approach.
Participants
YouthBet.net was designed by youth for youth. A youth working group spent several months designing the look and feel of the site to ensure that it would appeal to youth aged 10–19. In total, 34 youth from the Greater Toronto Area participated in the first 3 phases of the usability testing of the site using Video Capture of User Site Interaction methodology.
Setting
Urban Toronto.
Intervention
Utilizing public health strategies such as health promotion, harm reduction and problem prevention, YouthBet.net features games, information and help resources to protect youth from gambling-related harm.
Outcomes
Youth participants indicated that they liked the interactive way gambling information was presented via realistic games and quizzes, often citing that YouthBet.net would be a fun and educational tool to be used by teachers in the classroom. Participants had no difficulties navigating the site, finding content and playing games. Additionally, all youth said that they would return to the site and would recommend it to a friend if they were having a problem with gambling.
Conclusion
YouthBet.net is one of the first comprehensive websites designed for youth gambling. Findings from this research will inform future health promotion, harm reduction and problem prevention efforts for youth gambling using Internet technology.
MeSHterms: Gambling, health promotion, adolescent, Internet
Résumé
Objectif
YouthBet.net (), un site Web interactif et multimédia fondé sur une démarche de santé publique, a pour but de prévenir les problèmes de jeu chez les jeunes.
Participants
YouthBet.net est conçu par et pour les jeunes. Un groupe de travail de jeunes a passé plusieurs mois à concevoir le style du site pour qu’il plaise aux jeunes de 10 à 19 ans. En tout, 34 jeunes de la région du Grand Toronto ont participé aux trois premières phases de validation de la convivialité du site par la méthode de capture d’images vidéo des interactions site-utilisateurs.
Lieu
la zone urbaine de Toronto
Intervention
À l’aide de diverses stratégies de santé publique (promotion de la santé, réduction des méfaits, prévention des problèmes), YouthBet.net présente des jeux, de l’information et des ressources de dépannage pour prévenir les méfaits des jeux de hasard et aider les jeunes à s’en prémunir.
Résultats
Les jeunes participants ont dit apprécier la présentation interactive de l’information sur les jeux de hasard (par le biais de jeux et de devinettes réalistes), en mentionnant souvent que YouthBet.net serait un outil amusant et éducatif pour les enseignants en milieu scolaire. Les participants n’ont eu aucun mal à parcourir le site, à y trouver des renseignements et à jouer aux jeux. De plus, tous les jeunes ont dit qu’ils reviendraient sur le site et qu’ils le recommanderaient à un ami aux prises avec un problème de jeu.
Conclusion
YouthBet.net est l’un des premiers sites Web «tout-en-un» conçus pour les jeunes qui s’adonnent à des jeux de hasard. Les résultats de notre étude seront utiles pour de futurs projets de promotion de la santé, de réduction des méfaits et de prévention des problèmes de jeu menés auprès des jeunes en faisant appel à la technologie Internet.
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