title: Prevalence of tobacco use among first-term Air Force personnel before and after basic military training.
abstract: To support the goal of a tobacco-free Air Force, a longitudinal study of 3,531 first-term airmen was conducted during basic military training (BMT) at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Tobacco use is currently prohibited during the 6-week period of BMT. Three self-reported surveys to determine tobacco use prevalence and behaviors were administered at the beginning, end, and 90 days post-BMT. Results indicate that 36% of men and 29% of women used some form of tobacco prior to BMT. Within 90 days after completing BMT, 74% of matched males and females resumed tobacco use and 6% of matched males and females initiated tobacco use. Regression analysis found that several survey questions could predict 85% of tobacco use and 88% of non-tobacco use after BMT. We conclude that tobacco prohibition during BMT has a small, beneficial effect on post-BMT tobacco use. Further efforts, however, are needed to meet the goal of a tobacco-free Air Force.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236-5551, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gackstetter
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fiedler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermesch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lando
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors