An examination of cigarette brand switching to reduce health risks

This study examined cigarette brand switching to reduce health risk in a po pulation of young smokers (N = 7,998) entering United States Air Force Basi c Military Training. Because of a comprehensive tobacco bun during training , all smokers were abstinent during the study. Results from this investigat ion suggested that brand switching to reduce health risks was common among current smokers (31.3% of males; 32.3% of females). Brand switchers smoked fewer cigarettes, were more likely to smoke low-yield brands, had lower sco res on a measure of nicotine dependency, and were more confident they could remain abstinent following training. Other discriminators of smokers who h ad switched brands from other smokers included using smoking to control app etite, greater proclivity to attempt smoking cessation, engaging in fewer s afety risk, and healthier dietary composition. Finally, brand switchers qui t smoking at a higher rate than other smokers (12.5% versus 11.1%) during t he year following basic military training. However a multivariate logistic regression model that controlled for demographic factors and smoking histor y suggested that brand switching was not a statistically significant predic tor of smoking cessation during the follow-up period.