Tobacco use patterns and attitudes in Singapore young male adults serving military national service: a qualitative study
Objectives To explore tobacco use patterns and factors influencing tobacco use in young Singaporean men serving military national service.Methods A qualitative study using in-depth telephone interviews and maximum variation sampling was conducted with 29 Singaporean men who have completed their nati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2020-09-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/9/e039367.full |
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| author | Mee-Lian Wong Jeong Kyu Lee Clive Tan Lavinia Lin Mervyn Lim Seeu Kun Ong |
| author_facet | Mee-Lian Wong Jeong Kyu Lee Clive Tan Lavinia Lin Mervyn Lim Seeu Kun Ong |
| author_sort | Mee-Lian Wong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives To explore tobacco use patterns and factors influencing tobacco use in young Singaporean men serving military national service.Methods 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.Results 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.Conclusion 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a437eb2f8c914de3be27d5a8e9bb55e8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-a437eb2f8c914de3be27d5a8e9bb55e82025-01-08T07:35:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-09-0110910.1136/bmjopen-2020-039367Tobacco use patterns and attitudes in Singapore young male adults serving military national service: a qualitative studyMee-Lian Wong0Jeong Kyu Lee1Clive Tan2Lavinia Lin3Mervyn Lim4Seeu Kun Ong5Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, SingaporeNational University Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, SingaporeHeadquarters Medical Corps, Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps, SingaporeNational University Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, SingaporeHeadquarters Medical Corps, Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps, SingaporeHeadquarters Medical Corps, Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps, SingaporeObjectives To explore tobacco use patterns and factors influencing tobacco use in young Singaporean men serving military national service.Methods 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.Results 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.Conclusion 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.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/9/e039367.full |
| spellingShingle | Mee-Lian Wong Jeong Kyu Lee Clive Tan Lavinia Lin Mervyn Lim Seeu Kun Ong Tobacco use patterns and attitudes in Singapore young male adults serving military national service: a qualitative study BMJ Open |
| title | Tobacco use patterns and attitudes in Singapore young male adults serving military national service: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Tobacco use patterns and attitudes in Singapore young male adults serving military national service: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Tobacco use patterns and attitudes in Singapore young male adults serving military national service: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tobacco use patterns and attitudes in Singapore young male adults serving military national service: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Tobacco use patterns and attitudes in Singapore young male adults serving military national service: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | tobacco use patterns and attitudes in singapore young male adults serving military national service a qualitative study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/9/e039367.full |
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