Tobacco use prevention and cessation programs in the U.S. Navy

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Military Health

Background:

• Tobacco use remains a significant public health concern.
• Effective smoking cessation programs are crucial for military readiness and personnel health.
• Previous efforts in the U.S. Navy required evaluation to identify areas for improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the scope and perceived usefulness of tobacco prevention and cessation activities within U.S. Navy commands in 1990.
• To evaluate the availability of smoking cessation aids and the implementation of tobacco use policies.
• To identify disparities in cessation efforts across different Navy command subgroups.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to a representative sample of 406 U.S. Navy commands, including medical facilities.
• Data collection focused on tobacco prevention/cessation programs, educational materials, cessation aids, policies, and user identification systems.
• Respondents provided estimates on program effectiveness and physician practices regarding tobacco use screening.

Main Results:

• 86% of commands offered some form of tobacco cessation education or programs, though often rated as only "somewhat useful".
• Nearly half of commands provided psychological or behavioral cessation programs, with estimated success rates of 33% cessation and 47% reduction in use.
• Over-the-counter cessation aids were scarce; only 61% had written tobacco policies, and 33% of medical facilities routinely identified tobacco users via records, despite 80% of physicians inquiring about use.

Conclusions:

• The U.S. Navy needs a more proactive approach to tobacco prevention and cessation, including systematic identification of tobacco users through medical records.
• Current cessation efforts show inequities among command subgroups, necessitating targeted interventions.
• Enhancing the availability of cessation aids and strengthening tobacco control policies are recommended.