Predictors of smokeless tobacco initiation in a young adult military cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To identify predictors of smokeless tobacco (ST) initiation among young adults.


METHODS
A military cohort (N=28,229) was analyzed to identify variables associated with ST initiation.


RESULTS
Baseline current cigarette smoking at baseline was a strong predictor for any ST use (OR 3.88; 95% CI: 3.33-4.52) and daily ST use (OR 3.01, 2.34-3.88) as was experimental ST use for any (OR 2.39, 2.09-2.73) and daily ST use (OR 2.41, 1.93-3.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking and previous ST use are strong predictors for ST use in adults. Research is needed to characterize ST initiation and changes in smoking behavior over time.
Ebbert
Jon O
JO
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. ebbert.jon@mayo.edu
Haddock
C Keith
CK
Vander Weg
Mark
M
Klesges
Robert C
RC
Poston
Walker S C
WS
DeBon
Margaret
M
D000328:Adult; D001359:Aviation / Q000193:education; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology