scholarly journals Evaluating the Effects of a Brief Tobacco Intervention in the US Air Force

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1569-1577
Author(s):  
Melissa A Little ◽  
Margaret C Fahey ◽  
Robert C Klesges ◽  
Timothy McMurry ◽  
Gerald W Talcott
Keyword(s):  
Air Force ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
San Antonio ◽  
Technical Training ◽  
Media Campaign ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Booster Session ◽  
Us Air Force ◽  
Tobacco Intervention

Abstract Introduction Military personnel have among the highest rates of tobacco use in the United States. Unfortunately, there are few interventions aimed at reducing tobacco use among this vulnerable population. The current study addresses this need by evaluating the short-term effectiveness of a Brief Tobacco Intervention (BTI), a 40-min group-based intervention designed to reduce contemporary patterns of tobacco use among a sample of US military enlistees during an 11-week period of involuntary tobacco abstinence. Aims and Methods Participants were 2999 US Air Force Technical Trainees at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas from April 2017 through January 2018. Participants were cluster randomized to three conditions: (1) BTI + Airman’s Guide to Remaining Tobacco Free (AG), (2) AG intervention, or (3) standard smoking cessation intervention. The primary analysis was a comparison of the interventions’ efficacies in preventing tobacco use during Technical Training, conducted using a generalized estimating equations logistic regression model controlling for covariates. Multiple imputation was used to account for loss to follow-up. Results There was not a significant difference by condition in the use of tobacco products at follow-up (p = .454). The BTI + AG condition did produce short-term changes in perceived harm, intentions to use tobacco, knowledge about tobacco products, and normative beliefs. Conclusions These findings suggest that while the intervention was effective in the short term, it was not potent enough over a 12-week period to prevent Airmen from initiating tobacco use. Future studies should examine whether adding a booster session or media campaign enhances the effectiveness of the intervention. Implications Despite the fact that most Airmen believe they will remain tobacco free following the ban in Technical Training, a large percentage of these Airmen resume and initiate tobacco use during this high-risk period. As a result, there is a need for interventions targeting the range of tobacco available to military trainees during a teachable moment when they report intentions to remain tobacco free. The current study shows that a BTI has promise in reducing long-term tobacco use, when coupled with additional interventions, such as a booster session or a media campaign.

scholarly journals Efficacy of a group-based brief tobacco intervention among young adults aged 18–20 years in the US Air Force

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (December) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Melissa Little ◽  
Xin-Qun Wang ◽  
Margaret Fahey ◽  
Kara Wiseman ◽  
Kinsey Pebley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Us Air Force ◽  
The Us ◽  
Tobacco Intervention

scholarly journals SHORT TERM OUTCOMES OF US AIR FORCE CRITICAL CARE AIR TRANSPORT TEAM (CCATT) PATIENTS EVACUATED FROM A COMBAT SETTING BETWEEN 2007 AND 2008

CHEST Journal ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 28S ◽  
Author(s):  
William Beninati ◽  
Julio Lairet ◽  
James King ◽  
Leslie Vojta ◽  
Michael McCarthy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Us Air Force ◽  
Transport Team

Short-term Outcomes of US Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) Patients Evacuated from a Combat Setting

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 486-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Lairet ◽  
James King ◽  
Leslie Vojta ◽  
William Beninati
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Us Air Force ◽  
Transport Team

scholarly journals When, How, & Where Tobacco Initiation and Relapse Occur During U.S. Air Force Technical Training

2020 ◽  
Vol 185 (5-6) ◽  
pp. e609-e615
Author(s):  
Margaret Celice Fahey ◽  
G Wayne Talcott ◽  
Timothy L McMurry ◽  
Robert C Klesges ◽  
David Tubman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Force ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Electronic Cigarettes ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Technical Training ◽  
First Year ◽  
Specialty Store

Abstract Introduction Military personnel are at high risk for tobacco use, particularly during the first year of military service. Technical Training follows an 8½ week tobacco ban during basic military training and is a vulnerable time for personnel to both reinitiate and initiate tobacco use. Thus, this can be a crucial time to promote tobacco policies and interventions. However, there is limited research examining when, how, and where personnel access tobacco during the first year of service, particularly among users of newer products (eg, electronic cigarettes[e-cigarettes]). Thus, the purpose of the current study is to explore the timing, source, and location of tobacco use during Technical Training across all types of products. Furthermore, this study will examine differences in demographic characteristics and prior tobacco history in relationship to these tobacco behaviors. Materials and Methods Participants were U.S. Air Force recruits completing Technical Training (2017–2018). Protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the 59th Medical Wing of the U.S. Air Force. During the first week of Technical Training, Airmen were consented to participate in the study and completed a questionnaire about demographics and tobacco use history. Next, Airmen were randomized to receive one of three tobacco prevention interventions as part of military training. At a 3-month follow-up, during the last week of Technical Training, consented participants completed a questionnaire about current tobacco use. Airmen reported when (ie, first month vs. after), how (ie, “bummed” from another airman, bought on or off base, received from the internet or event), and where (ie, designated smoking areas on base, off base, bar or club, friend’s house, cigar lounge, hookah bar, or vape shop) they used tobacco during Technical Training. Descriptive statistics were used to examine these behaviors across all tobacco products. Additionally, Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests compared differences in demographic characteristics and baseline tobacco use in relationship to these tobacco behaviors. Results No significant differences were found when comparing prior users and first-time users in relationship to tobacco behaviors during Technical Training; however, significant differences in educational background and age were found in regard to the source and location of tobacco use. Additionally, how and where Airmen first used tobacco during Technical Training differed across products. Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco were equally likely to be bought on or off base and most commonly first used at a designated smoking area on base. However, e-cigarettes, cigarillos/little cigars, and hookah were more likely to be bought off base, and first used at a specialty store (ie, vape shop, hookah bar, or cigar lounge). Conclusions Tobacco use behaviors during Technical Training differed depending on the type of product. Specifically, new and emerging products were more likely to be bought off base and first used at a specialty store. Thus, military polices regulating on base tobacco pricing might not reduce the growing prevalence of e-cigarettes. Future policies might consider addressing the density of off-base tobacco retailers to reduce the high rates of tobacco use in this population.

Efficacy of a Brief Tobacco Intervention for Tobacco and Nicotine Containing Product Use in the US Air Force

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 1142-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Little ◽  
Gerald W. Talcott ◽  
Zoran Bursac ◽  
Brittany D. Linde ◽  
Louis A. Pagano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Force ◽  
Product Use ◽  
Us Air Force ◽  
The Us ◽  
Tobacco Intervention

Comparing belief in short-term versus long-term consequences of smoking and vaping as predictors of non-use in a 3-year nationally representative survey study of US youth

2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2021-056886
Author(s):  
Emma Jesch ◽  
Ava Irysa Kikut ◽  
Robert Hornik
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Electronic Cigarettes ◽  
Smoking Behaviour ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Long Term Consequences ◽  
Nationally Representative

IntroductionEfforts to prevent youth tobacco use are critical to reducing smoking-related deaths in the USA. Anti-tobacco messaging often focuses on the severe long-term consequences of smoking (eg, fatal lung disease, cancer). It is unclear whether these long-term consequences are more likely to deter youth use than shorter term consequences (eg, headaches, friend disapproval).MethodsA nationally representative 3-year rolling survey of adolescents and young adults (ages 13–26 years) measured belief in potential consequences of two types of tobacco products: combustible cigarettes (n=11 847) and electronic cigarettes (n=4470) as well as intentions and current use. Independent coders classified 23 consequences as either short or long term. Logistic regression tested the associations between short-term (vs long-term) beliefs and current intentions, as well as non-smoking behaviour at 6-month follow-up.ResultsBelieving in both short-term and long-term consequences was associated with outcomes, but short-term beliefs were more highly associated with anti-smoking (OR=1.40, 95% CI (1.30 to 1.51)) and anti-vaping (OR=2.10, 95% CI (1.75 to 2.52)) intentions and better predicted non-smoking behaviour at follow-up, controlling for prior use (OR=1.75, 95% CI (1.33 to 2.31)).ConclusionsThese results support temporal discounting by adolescents and young adults and suggest health communication efforts aiming to reduce youth tobacco use should emphasise shorter term consequences.

Using the Socio-ecological Model to Explore Facilitators and Deterrents of Tobacco Use Among Airmen in Technical Training

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen J Porter ◽  
Rebecca A Krukowski ◽  
Gloribel Bonilla ◽  
Lisa McKenna ◽  
Gerald W Talcott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Technical Training ◽  
Normative Beliefs ◽  
Interpersonal Level ◽  
Environmental Level

ABSTRACT Introduction Military personnel have some of the highest rates of tobacco use in the USA. Within the Air Force, a common point of Airmen’s (re-)initiation of tobacco use is during technical training once the tobacco ban has been lifted. Unfortunately, little is known about what factors facilitate and deter tobacco use during technical training. The socio-ecological model, which emphasizes multiple levels of influence on behavior (e.g., personal, intrapersonal, and environmental), provides a strong and comprehensive basis for which to explore factors that may impact tobacco use during technical training. Materials and Methods Twenty-two focus groups were conducted among Airmen (n = 10), Military Training Leaders (MTLs, n = 7), and Technical Training Instructors (TTIs, n = 5). Semi-structured focus group protocols were developed based on the socio-ecological model and included questions intended to elicit factors that facilitated and deterred tobacco use during technical training. Focus groups were transcribed and then coded using a hybrid deductive-inductive process. Results At the personal level, five factors were identified that influenced tobacco use: choice, fit with lifestyle, associations with the tobacco experience, association with military job outcomes, and association with health outcomes. Three interpersonal level factors were identified: peer influence, leadership influence, and normative beliefs. There were two influential environmental level factors: pricing and promotion and access to tobacco. Except for normative beliefs, all personal, interpersonal, and environmental-level factors were discussed as having aspects that could either facilitate or deter tobacco use. Normative beliefs, an interpersonal-level factor, were only discussed as a facilitator of tobacco use. Conclusions Taken together, study findings can be used to enhance the effectiveness of tobacco prevention and cessation programs for Air Force Technical Trainees. Specific strategies to support the reduction of tobacco use among Airmen are presented.

The Link Between Verbal Short-Term Memory and Anomia Treatment Gains

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 1039-1052
Author(s):  
Reva M. Zimmerman ◽  
JoAnn P. Silkes ◽  
Diane L. Kendall ◽  
Irene Minkina
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Language Performance ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Treatment Gains ◽  
Post Hoc

Purpose A significant relationship between verbal short-term memory (STM) and language performance in people with aphasia has been found across studies. However, very few studies have examined the predictive value of verbal STM in treatment outcomes. This study aims to determine if verbal STM can be used as a predictor of treatment success. Method Retrospective data from 25 people with aphasia in a larger randomized controlled trial of phonomotor treatment were analyzed. Digit and word spans from immediately pretreatment were run in multiple linear regression models to determine whether they predict magnitude of change from pre- to posttreatment and follow-up naming accuracy. Pretreatment, immediately posttreatment, and 3 months posttreatment digit and word span scores were compared to determine if they changed following a novel treatment approach. Results Verbal STM, as measured by digit and word spans, did not predict magnitude of change in naming accuracy from pre- to posttreatment nor from pretreatment to 3 months posttreatment. Furthermore, digit and word spans did not change from pre- to posttreatment or from pretreatment to 3 months posttreatment in the overall analysis. A post hoc analysis revealed that only the less impaired group showed significant changes in word span scores from pretreatment to 3 months posttreatment. Discussion The results suggest that digit and word spans do not predict treatment gains. In a less severe subsample of participants, digit and word span scores can change following phonomotor treatment; however, the overall results suggest that span scores may not change significantly. The implications of these findings are discussed within the broader purview of theoretical and empirical associations between aphasic language and verbal STM processing.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document