Effects of the Wars on Smoking Among Veterans

Bastian, Lori A.; Sherman, Scott E.

doi:10.1007/s11606-009-1224-1

Cited by 22 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The rates of elevated BMI in our sample were higher than those reported in other groups of Veterans [22][23]. The prevalence of smoking was similar to that reported among other OIF/OEF/OND Veterans [24][25][26].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Iraq/Afghanistan-era Veterans with back pain: Characteristics and predictors of compensation and pension award

et al. 2016

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Abstract-Approximately 440,000 U.S. Veterans receive compensation for back and/or neck conditions. Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) criteria state that back compensation determinations are based on impaired back function and not comorbidity or lifestyle, but whether compensation is based solely on consideration of the lumbosacral region is unknown. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of medical chart data from 178 post-9/11 Veterans applying for service connection for back pain in fiscal year 2012 at the Department of Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System. Altogether, 62% were noted to have impairment of back functioning and 74% were awarded compensation. Rates of comorbidities (obesity, depression, smoking, and illicit drug use) were high. In multivariate models predicting compensation awarded, only having an impaired back was associated with service-connected compensation. Pain was associated with extent of service connection, but this relationship was fully mediated by functional back impairment. No other measure (including work status) significantly predicted compensation. In summary, service connection was largely based on functional impairment, as called for in VBA criteria. Although pain and comorbidities undoubtedly affect day-to-day functioning, these factors were not independently related to service connection. Veterans present with many remediable conditions, and the service-connection evaluation may be an opportunity to engage them in treatment.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Iraq/Afghanistan-era Veterans with back pain: Characteristics and predictors of compensation and pension award

et al. 2016

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“…The US military Millennium Cohort Study, a 21-year prospective study, has demonstrated that operational deployment is associated with an increased risk of both smoking initiation in previous never-smokers and a resumption of smoking in ex-smokers, and that the risk is further increased with exposure to combat [ 33 ]. There is good evidence that US troops returning from Afghanistan are smoking heavily [ 34 ]. A small study in US troops serving in Afghanistan in 2011 found that 62 % of deployed personnel smoked and that 29 % had increased their tobacco usage whilst deployed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smoking-related cancer in military veterans: retrospective cohort study of 57,000 veterans and 173,000 matched non-veterans

et al. 2016

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BackgroundServing military personnel are more likely to smoke, and to smoke more heavily, than civilians. The aim of our study was to examine whether veterans have an increased risk of a range of smoking-related cancers compared with non-veterans, using a large, national cohort of veterans.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 57,000 veterans resident in Scotland and 173,000 age, sex and area of residence matched civilians. We used Cox proportional hazard models to compare the risk of any cancer, lung cancer and other smoking-related cancers overall, by sex and by birth cohort, adjusting for the potential confounding effect of socioeconomic deprivation.ResultsOver a mean of 29 years follow-up, 445 (0.79 %) veterans developed lung cancer compared with 1106 (0.64 %) non-veterans (adjusted hazard ratio 1.16, 95 % confidence intervals 1.04–1.30, p = 0.008). Other smoking-related cancers occurred in 737 (1.31 %) veterans compared with 1883 (1.09 %) non-veterans (adjusted hazard ratio 1.18, 95 % confidence intervals 1.08–1.29, p < 0.001). A significantly increased risk was observed among veterans born 1950–1954 for lung cancer and 1945–1954 for other smoking-related cancers. The risk of lung cancer was decreased among veterans born 1960 onwards. In comparison, there was no difference in the risk of any cancer overall (adjusted hazard ratio 0.98, 95 % confidence intervals 0.94–1.01, p = 0.171), whilst younger veterans were at reduced risk of any cancer (adjusted hazard ratio 0.88, 95 % confidence intervals 0.81–0.97, p = 0.006).ConclusionsMilitary veterans living in Scotland who were born before 1955 are at increased risk of smoking-related cancer compared with non-veterans, but younger veterans are not. The differences may reflect changing patterns of smoking behaviour over time in military personnel which may, in turn, be linked to developments in military health promotion policy and a changing military operational environment, as well as to wider societal factors.

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“…Currently, OEF/OIF war initiatives are producing veterans who use tobacco at alarming rates, with smoking initiation rates at 7% (Bastian & Sherman, 2010;Beckham et al, 2008). Once tobacco use is initiated in the military there is a pattern of increased lifelong tobacco use (Beckham et al, 2008).…”

Section: Organizational Barriers To Smoking Cessationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motivation to Quit Smoking Among Veterans Diagnosed with Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders

Duffy¹,

Essenmacher

Karvonen‐Gutierrez

et al. 2010

Journal of Addictions Nursing

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While smoking, psychiatric and substance abuse disorders are high among veterans, there is considerable controversy over providing smoking cessation interventions to those suffering with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. The objective of this study was to determine motivation to quit smoking among veterans experiencing psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. A convenience sample of patients recruited at a primarily psychiatric Veterans Affairs hospital completed a self-administered survey (N = 146). Means or frequencies were calculated for all variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were examined to determine the association between psychiatric or substance abuse disorders and opinions about the importance of quitting smoking to health, thinking of quitting smoking in the next 30 days, and interest in receiving smoking cessation services. Psychiatric and substance abuse disorders were reported among 74% and 64% of patients, respectively. After controlling for nicotine dependence, age, race/ethnicity, and employment status, veterans with psychiatric disorders had 2.6 times greater odds of thinking that quitting smoking was very or extremely important to their health (p = 0.05) and 4.4 times greater odds of thinking of quitting using tobacco products in the next 30 days (p = 0.02) compared to those without psychiatric disorders. There were no differences in motivation to quit smoking among those with and without substance abuse disorders. Veterans with psychiatric disorders are motivated to quit smoking and should be offered cessation services. Veterans with substance abuse disorders may need interventions to enhance motivation to quit.

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Effects of the Wars on Smoking Among Veterans

Cited by 22 publications

References 10 publications

Iraq/Afghanistan-era Veterans with back pain: Characteristics and predictors of compensation and pension award

Iraq/Afghanistan-era Veterans with back pain: Characteristics and predictors of compensation and pension award

Smoking-related cancer in military veterans: retrospective cohort study of 57,000 veterans and 173,000 matched non-veterans

Motivation to Quit Smoking Among Veterans Diagnosed with Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders

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