Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Καρδιοαναπνευστική ΑναζωογόνησηLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Κουσκούνη Ευαγγελία, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ιακωβίδου Νικολέτα, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Χαλκιάς Αθανάσιος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλίας
Original Title:
Νεοσύλλεκτοι στρατιώτες και μεταβολή στις συνήθειες χρήσης καπνού μετά την ένταξη στον στρατιωτικό βίο.
Translated title:
Greek army recruits and variation in habits of tobacco use after the inclusion to military life.
Summary:
Background and aim: the prevalence of cigarette use among military personnel is higher than this in general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in tobacco use in Greek Army recruits, after the first four weeks of basic training, and to assess the possible causes that led to this change.
Materials and methods: the study was held in the military training center of Thebes, during the third period of recruitment, in May 2017. The 413 recruits were asked to reply to a questionnaire that examined the differentiation of their smoking habits four weeks after the entrance in the military life and asked them to determine the factors that may have lead them to this differentiation.
Results: the prevalence of smoking increased by 47.76% during the four-week basic training period, while 6.47% of smoking recruits quitted smoking. On the contrary, non-smokers did not initiate smoking. The previous smoking history and free time during basic training were the main factors that contributed to the increasing of smoking. Other variables like the new military environment, the distancing from their beloved ones, the coexistence with multiple other persons, the new everyday routine and the new military duties also affected the smoking habits of the recruits.
Conclusions: military recruits are at big risk of increasing smoking during and after the basic training period. The military forces should take advantage of the opportunity to implement and/or enhance smoking control measures, benefiting both Army and the community.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Recruits, Tobacco, Military, Army, Smoking
