Tan Clive, Lin Lavinia, Lim Mervyn, Ong Seeu Kun, Wong Mee-Lian, Lee Jeong Kyu
Headquarters Medical Corps, Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps, Singapore
National University Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore.
BMJ Open. 2020 Sep 28;10(9):e039367. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039367.
To explore tobacco use patterns and factors influencing tobacco use in young Singaporean men serving military national service.
A qualitative study using in-depth telephone interviews and maximum variation sampling was conducted with 29 Singaporean men who have completed their national service in 2017-2018. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
More than half (51.7%) of the participants started smoking before age 18, with a mean age of smoking initiation at 16 years. At the individual level, the two main contributing factors to tobacco use were smoking as a coping mechanism, and physical or psychological addiction. Financial concern was reported as the key motivation to quit smoking. At the interpersonal level, peers and superiors played an influential role in the smoking habits of the participants. When superiors took additional measures against smoking behaviours, it contributed to their decision to smoke less. At the organisation level, some unintended consequences were reported as a result of the strict tobacco control measures implemented by the military, such as the designated smoking areas within the camps become regarded as an area for socialisation.
Informed by the Socio-Ecological Model, this study has provided insights into the multifaceted and interactive effect of individual, interpersonal and organisational factors that influence tobacco use in young men serving military national service in the Singapore and Asian context. The study insights provided an understanding of the local context before designing programmes or changing regulations to further discourage tobacco usage in the military.
探讨新加坡服义务兵役的年轻男性的烟草使用模式及影响烟草使用的因素。
采用深度电话访谈和最大差异抽样进行定性研究，对29名在2017 - 2018年完成义务兵役的新加坡男性进行了调查。使用主题分析法对数据进行分析。
超过半数（51.7%）的参与者在18岁之前开始吸烟，平均开始吸烟年龄为16岁。在个人层面，烟草使用的两个主要促成因素是将吸烟作为一种应对机制以及身体或心理成瘾。经济担忧被报告为戒烟的关键动机。在人际层面，同伴和上级对参与者的吸烟习惯有影响作用。当上级对吸烟行为采取额外措施时，这促使他们减少吸烟。在组织层面，据报告军队实施的严格烟草控制措施产生了一些意外后果，例如营地内的指定吸烟区被视为社交场所。
基于社会生态模型，本研究深入了解了在新加坡及亚洲背景下，影响服义务兵役的年轻男性烟草使用的个人、人际和组织因素的多方面及交互作用。该研究结果为在设计项目或更改法规以进一步劝阻军队中的烟草使用之前了解当地情况提供了依据。
