[Association of Deployment and Tobacco Dependence among Soldiers].
OBJECTIVE
Smoking is a highly preventable risk factor. The present study investigates whether military operations abroad, as compared to deployment preparation, increase the risk of starting to smoke, enhance tobacco dependence and moderator variables can be identified on smoking behavior.


METHODS
The study was conducted at 2 mechanized infantry battalions with N=264 soldiers. The task force completed a deployment in Afghanistan, the control group performed a deployment training. Assessments of tobacco dependence, posttraumatic symptoms, depression and stress were done before (t1) and after (t3) deployment. In addition, one assessment was done at mid-point (t2) during deployment and during the pre-deployment training, respectively.


RESULTS
The prevalence rate of smoking soldiers was 56,4%. 51,1% (n=135) of all examined soldiers smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day. The results show a significant increase of tobacco dependence in the task force from t1 to t3 (p=0,040) as compared to the control group. For both groups, there was no increase in starting to smoke during the period of investigation (χ²<1; n. s.). Moderator variables on smoking were not found, but there was a significant increase in posttraumatic stress symptoms in the deployed group (p=0,006).


CONCLUSIONS
Perhaps the increase in tobacco dependence in the experimental group can be attributed to the specific burdens of deployment. If high smoking rates were to be found also in other branches of the armed services, effective smoking cessation programs should be offered more widely.
Bundeswehrkrankenhaus, Berlin.
U
U
Wesemann
Sanitätsversorgungszentrum, Mittenwald.
R
R
Schura
Streitkräfteamt, Bonn.
J T
JT
Kowalski
AsklepiosFachklinikum, Teupitz und Lübben, Teupitz.
S
S
Kropp
Charité, Berlin.
H
H
Danker-Hopfe
Bundeswehrkrankenhaus, Berlin.
H
H
Rau
Charité, Berlin.
A
A
Ströhle
Bundeswehrkrankenhaus, Berlin.
J
J
Thiele
Bundeswehrkrankenhaus, Berlin.
P L
PL
Zimmermann
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology