Purpose: Tobacco use is likely to be relatively common in veterans and reducing its use should be a priority. We report results from a recent, large, nationally representative survey of VHA patients on tobacco use, associated illness burden, and use of cessation services.
Methods: In ‘The 1999 Health Survey of Veterans,’ 1.5 million VHA patients (~41%) were sampled randomly and mailed questionnaires. To date, 845,387 (60.1%) have responded. This report is based on weighted survey responses, combined with patient and service information from medical records.
Results: Overall, 77.0% of patients had ever smoked cigarettes (100+ lifetime), 26.1% still smoked regularly, and most past smokers had quit at least 6 years ago. After age standardization, smoking rates in VHA patients were much higher than in the U.S. adult population (36.1% vs 27.6% in men, 28.1% vs. 22.1% in women). Patients who smoked were much sicker with more diseases, lower health related quality of life (Veterans SF-36), and more use of health services. Most smokers said that, in the past year, VHA providers had asked about their smoking (76%) and advised them to quit (69%), but only 27% had been referred for cessation, and only 15% said they were given the services they needed to quit. Responses were similar among smokers who attempted quitting in the past year and slightly higher among those who had succeeded in quitting.
Conclusions: Tobacco use is a common and debilitating health problem in the VHA. Effective smoking cessation services need to be made readily available to VHA patients.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about tobacco use, its health effects, and cessation services in the Veterans Health Administration
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Office of Performance & Quality, Veterans Health Administration
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: grants & employment