title: Changes in smoking prevalence following a strict no-smoking policy in U.S. Navy recruit training.
abstract: This study examined 449 U.S. Navy recruits who reported that they were current smokers upon entering Navy recruit training. Recruits were prohibited from using tobacco for the duration of the 8 weeks of basic training. Participants completed tobacco surveys at entry into the Navy, upon graduation from recruit training, and after 1 year of service. Forty percent of the smokers at entry into the Navy changed their classification to former smokers at the end of recruit training. At the 1-year follow-up, 19% of the initial smokers classified themselves as former smokers. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that having a higher intent to quit was predictive of reporting oneself as a former smoker at recruit training graduation. Smoking fewer cigarettes per day at entry into the Navy and more years of regular tobacco use were predictive of reporting oneself as a former smoker at the 1-year follow-up. Findings from this study suggested a meaningful impact of the Navy's no-smoking policy during recruit training in reducing smoking prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Naval Health Research Center, Department of Health Sciences and Epidemiology, San Diego, CA 92186-5122, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hurtado
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Conway
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009042:Motivation; D009326:Naval Medicine; D016134:Organizational Policy; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States