title: Installation Tobacco Control Programs in the U.S. Military.
abstract: Tobacco use prevalence is unacceptably high in the U.S. military, and the Department of Defense and service branches have implemented tobacco control policies and cessation programs. To explore aspects of programs regarded as exemplary by their services, we visited four installations, nominated by their service's health promotion leaders, and conducted interviews, observations, and focus groups. Installations included Naval Hospital Guam, Tripler Army Medical Center, MacDill Air Force Base, and the Naval Hospital at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. The tobacco control managers (TCMs) at the programs studied were all civilian employees, highly motivated and enthusiastic, and had remained in their positions for approximately a decade. Other commonalities included support from command, a "culture" of health, and location in warm climates. Programs varied in their involvement in establishing designated tobacco use areas, and length and requirement of attending cessation classes; however, no evaluation of cessation programs is currently underway. TCMs should be more engaged in policy discussions for the larger installations they serve. A strong policy framework and command support for TCMs will be necessary to achieve the goal of a tobacco-free military.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 455, San Francisco, CA 94118.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: National Development and Research Institutes, Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research, 1920 West 143rd Street, Suite 120, Leawood, KS 66224.
authors.forename: Walker S C
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Poston
authors.affiliation: National Development and Research Institutes, Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research, 1920 West 143rd Street, Suite 120, Leawood, KS 66224.
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Haddock
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 455, San Francisco, CA 94118.
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Malone
mesh_terms: D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education; D015995:Prevalence; D016730:Program Development; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce