Enhancing Civilian Support for Military Tobacco Control

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的总体目标是通过加强平民参与，发展知识，以支持美国军队实施有效的烟草控制政策。烟草使用（特别是吸烟）是美国可预防的主要死亡原因，军事人员的吸烟率仍然高得令人无法接受。自从军事介入伊拉克和阿富汗以来，吸烟率没有显著下降。政策变化，如增加香烟税和清洁空气法，已被证明比教育或个人干预在减少吸烟方面更有效，有助于将平民吸烟率降至20.8%。然而，军队的吸烟率，特别是在部署中，仍然要高得多。虽然颁布了许多军队控烟政策，但这些政策的有效执行一再受到军队以外的影响，包括烟草业的影响和缺乏文职人员的支持，从而受到阻碍或削弱。为了解决有效控制军队烟草的障碍，我们建议研究三个关键的民间群体：退伍军人和退伍军人服务组织（VSOs），公共卫生领导者和从业者，以及民间烟草控制政策领导者和从业者。根据这些调查结果，我们将制定/试点针对这些群体的教育干预措施，以帮助弥合民用和军用控烟工作之间的差距。本研究的具体目的是：1)与(a)志愿服务组织、(b)民间公共卫生组织和(c)控烟倡导组织的领导人进行访谈，以探索和描述来自公共部门的现役军人有效控烟倡导的促进因素和障碍；2)与(a)退伍军人团体、(b)公共卫生团体和(c)烟草控制团体的成员进行焦点小组讨论，探讨和描述对军队烟草控制的看法；3)对(a)针对退伍军人出版的杂志和报纸以及(b)退伍军人组织网站中针对退伍军人群体的烟草信息进行内容分析；4)根据具体目标#1-3的结果，制定和试点针对志愿军人组织、烟草控制和/或公共卫生团体的领导人和/或成员的教育外展活动，旨在解决有关军事烟草控制工作的知识差距，并促进对此类工作的支持。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objective of this study is to develop knowledge to support implementation of effective tobacco control policy in the U.S. military through enhanced civilian engagement. Tobacco use (particularly smoking) is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., and smoking prevalence among military personnel remains unacceptably high. Since military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, no significant reduction in smoking prevalence has been achieved. Policy changes, such as increased cigarette taxes and clean air laws, have been shown to be more effective than education or individual intervention at reducing smoking, helping reduce civilian smoking prevalence to 20.8%. However, military smoking rates, particularly among those on deployment, remain much higher. Although numerous military tobacco control policies have been issued, their effective implementation has been repeatedly thwarted or weakened by influences outside the military itself, including tobacco industry influence and lack of civilian support. In order to address identified obstacles to effective military tobacco control, we propose to study three key civilian groups: veterans and veterans' services organizations (VSOs), public health leaders and practitioners, and civilian tobacco control policy leaders and practitioners. Based on those findings, we will then develop/pilot an educational intervention targeting these groups to help bridge gaps between civilian and military tobacco control efforts. The specific aims of this study are to 1) Conduct interviews with leaders of (a) VSOs, (b) civilian public health groups, and (c) tobacco control advocacy organizations in order to explore and describe facilitators and barriers to effective tobacco control advocacy on behalf of active duty service members originating from the public sector; 2) Conduct focus groups with members of (a) veterans' groups, (b) public health groups, and (c) tobacco control groups to explore and describe perceptions about military tobacco control; 3) Conduct a content analysis of messages directed at the veteran community about tobacco in (a) magazines and newspapers published for veterans, and (b) websites of VSOs; and 4) Based on the findings of Specific Aims #1-3, develop and pilot an educational outreach to leaders and/or members of VSOs, tobacco control and/or public health groups aimed at addressing knowledge gaps about military tobacco control efforts and facilitating support for such efforts. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Tobacco use rates within the U.S. military remain higher than those among civilian populations. Although numerous military tobacco control policies have been issued, their effective implementation has been thwarted by influences outside the military, including lack of strong civilian support. By exploring perceptions about military tobacco control among three key civilian groups: veterans' service organizations, public health groups, and tobacco control groups, and developing and piloting an educational intervention, this study will address knowledge gaps about military tobacco control efforts and facilitate civilian support for them.