Effect of an eight week smoking ban on women at US Navy recruit training command

Objective-To examine the effect of a unique organisational smoking ban on f emale United States Navy recruits, a population with historically high smok ing rates. Setting and design-Study participants were female recruits (n = 5503) enter ing the Navy recruit training command between March 1996 and March 1997 (12 consecutive months). Participants completed smoking surveys at entry to re cruit training (baseline) and again at graduation from training after expos ure to an eight week, 24 hour a day smoking ban. Effects of the ban on base line to graduation changes in perceptions of being a smoker were examined, and relapse rates among baseline ever smokers was assessed three months aft er leaving recruit training. Results-Among all recruits, 41.4% reported being smokers at entry (that is, reported any smoking in the 30 days before entering recruit training). As a result of the ban, there was a significant reduction (from about 41% to 2 5%, p < 0.001) in the percentage of all women recruits who reported themsel ves as smokers, a much larger change than expected had no ban been in glace . Relapse at the three month follow up varied according to the type of smok er at entry into the Navy, with rates ranging from 89% relapse among baseli ne daily smokers to 31% among baseline experimenters. Conclusions-Findings suggest that the ban provides some smokers who desire to quit with an external impetus and support to do so. However, high relaps e rates indicate that more than an organisationally mandated smoking ban du ring recruit training is needed to help younger smokers, more regular smoke rs, and those who intend to continue smoking to quit after joining the Navy .