Enhancing Civilian Support for Military Tobacco Control

描述(由申请人提供)：这项研究的总体目标是发展知识，通过加强公民参与来支持在美国军队中实施有效的烟草控制政策。在美国，吸烟(尤其是吸烟)是主要的可预防的死亡原因，军事人员的吸烟率仍然高得令人无法接受。自军事介入伊拉克和阿富汗以来，吸烟流行率没有显著下降。政策变化，如增加香烟税和清洁空气法，已被证明在减少吸烟方面比教育或个人干预更有效，有助于将平民吸烟流行率降低到20.8%。然而，军队吸烟率，特别是在部署中的吸烟率仍然高得多。虽然已经发布了许多军事烟草控制政策，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。为了解决有效控制军事烟草的障碍，我们建议研究三个关键的平民群体：退伍军人和退伍军人服务组织、公共卫生领导人和从业人员，以及平民烟草控制政策领导人和从业人员。根据这些发现，我们将制定/试点针对这些群体的教育干预措施，以帮助弥合民间和军事烟草控制努力之间的差距。这项研究的具体目的是1)与(A)VSO、(B)民间公共卫生团体和(C)控烟倡导组织的领导人进行访谈，以探索和描述代表来自公共部门的现役军人有效控烟宣传的促进者和障碍；2)与(A)退伍军人团体、(B)公共卫生团体和(C)控烟团体的成员开展焦点小组，以探索和描述对军事控烟的看法；3)对(A)为退伍军人出版的杂志和报纸以及(B)退伍军人组织网站上针对退伍军人社区的烟草信息进行内容分析；以及4)根据具体目标1-3的调查结果，向退伍军人组织、烟草控制和/或公共卫生团体的领导人和/或成员开展教育外联活动，旨在解决军事烟草控制努力的知识差距，并促进对此类努力的支持。 与公共健康相关：美国军队中的烟草使用率仍然高于平民。虽然已经发布了许多军事烟草控制政策，但这些政策的有效执行受到军队以外的影响，包括缺乏强有力的文职支持。通过探索退伍军人服务组织、公共卫生组织和控烟团体这三个关键平民群体对军事烟草控制的看法，并开发和试点教育干预措施，这项研究将解决关于军事烟草控制努力的知识差距，并促进对他们的民间支持。

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.