Linking routinely collected data in research on gambling harm: A scoping review

Routinely collected data (RCD) are data originally gathered for administrative and clinical purposes, which can later be used as the basis for further research. Datasets of RCD can be linked to create a new data source. For example, RCD that can be linked include general patient population records, hospitalization records, and death registrations. This article presents a scoping review of the use of RCD in research on gambling harm. The researchers examined existing studies on gambling harm using RCD; how datasets are linked; how gambling harm is defined; and the quality of the evidence.