Combating Tobacco Use in the United States Army

Abstract

Abstract : This study will test the effectiveness of a computer-based cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco prevention and cessation video game among active Army personnel stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. The study has been designed to permit analyses sensitive enough to detect differences for the two primary hypotheses: reductions in smoking initiation and smoking cessation. During the dates covered in this Annual Report the research team was involved in the preparation phase of the intervention development, as described in the grant proposal. Regular telephone and email communication has been established between researchers at the UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Fort Hood which is the study site. The principal investigator and key members of the team have conducted a site visit at Fort Hood, during which all aspects of the research project were presented to the local healthcare leadership. The members of the investigative team participated in the Military Health Forum in Kansas, MO, during which the proposed intervention study was presented to the military researchers. The team has assembled a media inventory document necessary for completion of the interactive tobacco cessation and prevention educational tool (video game) and began weekly meetings with our creative design team. With the assistance from our study consultants, the investigative team has collected the state-of-the-art measurement scales and developed the draft survey instruments which are planned to be soon reviewed by our military collaborators. The creative design team was hired and currently consists of a Creative Lead, Flash Designer, and Script Writer. An Illustrator is in the process of being hired.