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Abstract
Introduction While the health hazards of smoking are well known, the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco (snus) and other nicotine products remain less familiar. This study investigates the prevalence and habits of tobacco use among Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) personnel, focusing on the use of snus and preferred withdrawal support.
Methods An electronic questionnaire survey was conducted among FDF personnel in 2014 and 2020. The response rates were 18% in 2014 (n=2386) and 27% in 2020 (n=3373). The study examined demographic factors, smoking, snus and e-cigarette use, and preferences for withdrawal support.
Results Daily smoking decreased significantly from 14% in 2014 to 6% in 2020, while daily snus use increased from 8% to 11%. E-cigarette use remained low (<1% in 2020). The highest prevalence of snus use was among military personnel working with conscripts. About a quarter of snus users (27%) used snus with a nicotine content of 11–20 mg/g and 30% used snus with a nicotine content of 21–30 mg/g. Preferred withdrawal support included nicotine replacement therapy or medication provided by the employer. A significant number of both smokers and snus users did not receive advice to quit from healthcare professionals.
Conclusions Tobacco use among FDF personnel shows a decrease in smoking but an increase in snus use. There is a need for targeted cessation support programmes, with an emphasis on professional advice and employer-provided nicotine replacement therapy. Increased involvement of healthcare professionals in advising quitting could significantly enhance cessation rates.
- Military Personnel
- OCCUPATIONAL & INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
- PUBLIC HEALTH
- EPIDEMIOLOGY
Data availability statement
Data are available upon reasonable request. The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to unpublished material that will be used in future publications but is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Data availability statement
Data are available upon reasonable request. The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to unpublished material that will be used in future publications but is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Footnotes
Contributors MD, AL, PS, SS, JO, LP and TV participated in designing the study. The acquisition of data was conducted by MD, AL, PS, SS, LP and TV. The study was conducted by MD, TV, AL, PS and SS. The first draft was prepared by MD. All statistical analyses were done by MD and JO. MD, AL, JO, LP, and TV contributed to the interpretation of data, reporting, writing, and editing of the manuscript. MD, AL, PS, SS, J-PR, JO, LP and TV read and approved the final version of the manuscript. The guarantor is MD.
Funding This study was funded by Maanpuolustuksen kannatussäätiö.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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