Factors predicting smoking behavior through multilevel interventions in the Royal Thai Army conscripts.

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors predicting smoking behavior through multilevel interventions in the Royal Thai Army Conscripts. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study was apart ofquasi-experimental research designed to evaluate the effectiveness of smoking cessation program based on ecological model for improving smoking behavior among the conscripts in the three levels ofbehavior change interventions; intrapersonal level, interpersonal level and organizational level. The 89 participants were purposively selected from the first infantry regiment of conscripts who were current smokers from the King's Royal Guards recruited into the Army in the first section of the year 2009 and put into a trial run-through of the three influential factors process throughout the first six months. The instruments used to collect data was a self-dministered questionnaire used between May 2009 and November 2009. In addition, the individual interviews and checklists of observations were employed to collect data related to organizational intervention. Data mining classification was used to predict the influential factors improving smoking behavior after the end of smoking cessation program at six months. RESULTS: The conscripts were able to change their smoking behaviors. 62.9% ofparticipants reduced smoking, and 4.5% could quit smoking. Data mining analysis showed self-efficacy in intrapersonal level was the crucial variable to predict smoking behavior which correctly classified in the model 77.78%, subsequently, behavioralfactors, e.g., duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Additionally, organizational intervention also had an influence on the change of smoking behavior by strengthening the policy related to tobacco control, settingsmoke free workplace and supportingfrom the commander. For interpersonal intervention, family support alone did not improve their smoking behaviors. CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy and organizational intervention can help the conscripts improve their smoking behaviors during service in the army.

Three intervention levels for improving smoking behavior among Royal Thai Army conscripts.

We evaluated a smoking cessation program based on an ecological model among Royal Thai Army conscripts with three levels of behavioral change intervention: intrapersonal level, interpersonal level and organizational level. The program applied processes of change in the Transtheoretical Model for intervention at the intrapersonal level; social support from the family at the interpersonal level; strengthening policies and activities to support quitting, including providing a smoke-free workplace at the organizational level. Eighty-nine participants were purposively selected from the first regiment of conscripts at the King's Royal Guard, recruited into the Army in 2009. The behavioral change intervention was conducted during their first six months of duty. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data between May and November 2009. Individual interviews and checklist observations were employed to collect data. Data was analyzed using inferential statistics, comparing means by paired t-test and the chi-square test was used to analyze correlations. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Sixty-three percent of participants significantly (p<0.001) reduced the number of cigarettes smoked, and 4.5% quit smoking. There was significant improvement in self-efficacy for improving smoking behavior (p=0.002) and making an effort to quit (p<0.001).

Physical fitness and anthropometric characteristics of Royal Thai Army personnel.

The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between physical fitness and anthropometric characteristics in Royal Thai Army (RTA) personnel. Body weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference and blood pressure were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Subsequently, 4,030 males aged 20 to 60 years were field tested using 2-minute push ups/sit-ups and 2-kilometer run to measure muscular strength/endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance, respectively. Data were analyzed for the relationships between BMI and anthropometric variables and blood pressure and physical fitness results. The average BMI for RTA personnel was 24.0 +/- 3.3 kg/m2. Correlation coefficient between BMI and waist circumference (r = 0.847, p < 0.001) was better than BMI and WHR (r = 0.553, p < 0.001). Both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) had a significant positive correlation with BMI. The numbers of push-ups/sit-ups had a negative correlation with BMI (r = -0.121 and -0.109, respectively), whereas 2-kilometer run times had a positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.291, p < 0.001). In conclusion, RTA personnel with increasing BMI tend to have low physical fitness level.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Royal Thai Army personnel.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Royal Thai Army (RTA) personnel. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study was performed on 4,276 RTA personnel aged 20-60 years between January and July 2005. They were interviewed for general health status, history of smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Blood pressure, weight, height, waist, and hip circumference were measured. RESULT: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in RTA personnel were 27.1% and 4.9% respectively. The mean value of age, weight, body mass index, waist, and hip circumference, waist hip ratio, blood pressure in overweight, and obese personnel were significantly higher than those of non-overweight personnel. Logistic regression analysis showed that significant risks of being overweight were positively associated with age, male, and working in a combat unit. Current smoking was inversely associated with overweight and obesity, whereas physical activity > or = 3 times/wk was inversely associated with obesity. Overweight and obesity were also associated with hypertension. CONCLUSION: These baseline data are useful for future trends monitoring and may be used for health promotion planning to prevent obesity in RTA personnel.