title: Smokeless tobacco use in an outpatient veteran population.
abstract: Smokeless tobacco use is a significant health risk for carcinoma of the oropharynx, and has a high prevalence in the southern United States. To evaluate the potential demand for a smokeless tobacco cessation program, we surveyed patients attending the General Medicine Clinic of a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use was 5.8%, which did not justify creation of a clinic-based cessation program. Since we observed adults using smokeless tobacco as a means to reduce or stop their smoking, smoking cessation programs should include counseling against smokeless tobacco use.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham VA Medical Center, NC 27705.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Westman
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Simel
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D003625:Data Collection; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless