title: Evaluation of an educational intervention for military tobacco users.
abstract: This study evaluated the short-term effect of a one-time tobacco hazard education intervention on tobacco use and intention to quit among military tobacco users. Of the 151 Army infantry soldiers who received the intervention, 60 (40%) participated in a 1-month follow-up survey. Respondents' reported pre-intervention tobacco habits included 51% smoking, 22% smokeless tobacco use, and 27% both. A one-group, posttest-only design demonstrated a decline in tobacco use in more than half of tobacco users: 14% quit, and 37% decreased use. However, 46% stayed the same, and 3% increased use. A statistically significant difference in tobacco use existed among the three subgroups of tobacco users (p = 0.004). Smokeless-tobacco-only users were more likely to quit than smoking-only or combined users. Eighty percent had positive thoughts or actions toward quitting tobacco use after the intervention. Results suggest that a one-time tobacco education intervention can positively influence tobacco use in the short term and motivate tobacco users toward quitting.
authors.affiliation: Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States