The association of military discharge variables with smoking status among homeless Veterans

Patrick Hammett; Steven S Fu; Harry A Lando; Greg Owen; Kola Okuyemi

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.09.007

The association of military discharge variables with smoking status among homeless Veterans

Patrick Hammett, Steven S Fu, Harry A Lando, Greg Owen, Kola Okuyemi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: There is a dearth of research examining the health correlates of tobacco use within the homeless population, particularly with respect to homeless Veterans. An aim of the present study was to compare homeless Veteran and homeless non-Veteran smokers across a series of socio-demographic and health variables, and to determine whether any of these variables were independently associated with Veteran status. A subsequent aim was to compare the socio-demographic and health profiles of Veteran smokers and Veteran nonsmokers, and to determine whether any of these variables were independently associated with current smoking. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2009 Homelessness in Minnesota survey conducted by the Wilder Research Foundation. The final sample included 4750 homeless individuals living throughout Minnesota. Results: The prevalence of smoking was greater among homeless Veterans (74%) than homeless non-Veterans (70%). The prevalence of physical and mental health problems was higher among homeless Veteran smokers than homeless non-Veteran smokers, although these variables were not independently associated with Veteran status after controlling for socio-demographics. Analyses of the homeless Veteran sample indicated that receipt of Veterans' benefits, type of discharge, and alcohol and/or chemical dependence were independently associated with current smoking. Conclusion: Homeless Veteran smokers exhibit heightened rates of physical and mental health problems compared to homeless non-Veteran smokers. Military service and discharge characteristics may contribute to this high smoking prevalence. Future efforts should focus on increasing Veterans' access to and knowledge of Veterans' health resources, and on developing innovative strategies to boost cessation in this population.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	275-280
Number of pages	6
Journal	Preventive medicine
Volume	81
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.09.007
State	Published - Dec 1 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Primary funding provided by NIH Grant R01HL081522-S1 . Additional support provided by the Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA, Minneapolis, MN . Additional funding for the Homelessness in Minnesota survey provided by the following: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation , Corporation for Supportive Housing , Greater Minnesota Housing Fund , Greater Twin Cities United Way , Hennepin County , Integrated Community Solutions, Inc. , The McKnight Foundation , Metropolitan Council , B.C. Gamble and P.W. Skogmo Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation , Minnesota Department of Human Services (Children and Family, Adult Mental Health Div.) and Minnesota Housing .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Inc.

Keywords

Health disparities
Homeless persons
Smoking
Veterans

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.09.007

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title = "The association of military discharge variables with smoking status among homeless Veterans",

abstract = "Objective: There is a dearth of research examining the health correlates of tobacco use within the homeless population, particularly with respect to homeless Veterans. An aim of the present study was to compare homeless Veteran and homeless non-Veteran smokers across a series of socio-demographic and health variables, and to determine whether any of these variables were independently associated with Veteran status. A subsequent aim was to compare the socio-demographic and health profiles of Veteran smokers and Veteran nonsmokers, and to determine whether any of these variables were independently associated with current smoking. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2009 Homelessness in Minnesota survey conducted by the Wilder Research Foundation. The final sample included 4750 homeless individuals living throughout Minnesota. Results: The prevalence of smoking was greater among homeless Veterans (74%) than homeless non-Veterans (70%). The prevalence of physical and mental health problems was higher among homeless Veteran smokers than homeless non-Veteran smokers, although these variables were not independently associated with Veteran status after controlling for socio-demographics. Analyses of the homeless Veteran sample indicated that receipt of Veterans' benefits, type of discharge, and alcohol and/or chemical dependence were independently associated with current smoking. Conclusion: Homeless Veteran smokers exhibit heightened rates of physical and mental health problems compared to homeless non-Veteran smokers. Military service and discharge characteristics may contribute to this high smoking prevalence. Future efforts should focus on increasing Veterans' access to and knowledge of Veterans' health resources, and on developing innovative strategies to boost cessation in this population.",

keywords = "Health disparities, Homeless persons, Smoking, Veterans",

author = "Patrick Hammett and Fu, {Steven S} and Lando, {Harry A} and Greg Owen and Kola Okuyemi",

note = "Funding Information: Primary funding provided by NIH Grant R01HL081522-S1 . Additional support provided by the Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA, Minneapolis, MN . Additional funding for the Homelessness in Minnesota survey provided by the following: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation , Corporation for Supportive Housing , Greater Minnesota Housing Fund , Greater Twin Cities United Way , Hennepin County , Integrated Community Solutions, Inc. , The McKnight Foundation , Metropolitan Council , B.C. Gamble and P.W. Skogmo Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation , Minnesota Department of Human Services (Children and Family, Adult Mental Health Div.) and Minnesota Housing . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2015",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.09.007",

language = "English (US)",

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T1 - The association of military discharge variables with smoking status among homeless Veterans

AU - Hammett, Patrick

AU - Fu, Steven S

AU - Lando, Harry A

AU - Owen, Greg

AU - Okuyemi, Kola

N1 - Funding Information: Primary funding provided by NIH Grant R01HL081522-S1 . Additional support provided by the Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA, Minneapolis, MN . Additional funding for the Homelessness in Minnesota survey provided by the following: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation , Corporation for Supportive Housing , Greater Minnesota Housing Fund , Greater Twin Cities United Way , Hennepin County , Integrated Community Solutions, Inc. , The McKnight Foundation , Metropolitan Council , B.C. Gamble and P.W. Skogmo Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation , Minnesota Department of Human Services (Children and Family, Adult Mental Health Div.) and Minnesota Housing . Publisher Copyright: © 2015 Elsevier Inc.

PY - 2015/12/1

Y1 - 2015/12/1

N2 - Objective: There is a dearth of research examining the health correlates of tobacco use within the homeless population, particularly with respect to homeless Veterans. An aim of the present study was to compare homeless Veteran and homeless non-Veteran smokers across a series of socio-demographic and health variables, and to determine whether any of these variables were independently associated with Veteran status. A subsequent aim was to compare the socio-demographic and health profiles of Veteran smokers and Veteran nonsmokers, and to determine whether any of these variables were independently associated with current smoking. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2009 Homelessness in Minnesota survey conducted by the Wilder Research Foundation. The final sample included 4750 homeless individuals living throughout Minnesota. Results: The prevalence of smoking was greater among homeless Veterans (74%) than homeless non-Veterans (70%). The prevalence of physical and mental health problems was higher among homeless Veteran smokers than homeless non-Veteran smokers, although these variables were not independently associated with Veteran status after controlling for socio-demographics. Analyses of the homeless Veteran sample indicated that receipt of Veterans' benefits, type of discharge, and alcohol and/or chemical dependence were independently associated with current smoking. Conclusion: Homeless Veteran smokers exhibit heightened rates of physical and mental health problems compared to homeless non-Veteran smokers. Military service and discharge characteristics may contribute to this high smoking prevalence. Future efforts should focus on increasing Veterans' access to and knowledge of Veterans' health resources, and on developing innovative strategies to boost cessation in this population.

AB - Objective: There is a dearth of research examining the health correlates of tobacco use within the homeless population, particularly with respect to homeless Veterans. An aim of the present study was to compare homeless Veteran and homeless non-Veteran smokers across a series of socio-demographic and health variables, and to determine whether any of these variables were independently associated with Veteran status. A subsequent aim was to compare the socio-demographic and health profiles of Veteran smokers and Veteran nonsmokers, and to determine whether any of these variables were independently associated with current smoking. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2009 Homelessness in Minnesota survey conducted by the Wilder Research Foundation. The final sample included 4750 homeless individuals living throughout Minnesota. Results: The prevalence of smoking was greater among homeless Veterans (74%) than homeless non-Veterans (70%). The prevalence of physical and mental health problems was higher among homeless Veteran smokers than homeless non-Veteran smokers, although these variables were not independently associated with Veteran status after controlling for socio-demographics. Analyses of the homeless Veteran sample indicated that receipt of Veterans' benefits, type of discharge, and alcohol and/or chemical dependence were independently associated with current smoking. Conclusion: Homeless Veteran smokers exhibit heightened rates of physical and mental health problems compared to homeless non-Veteran smokers. Military service and discharge characteristics may contribute to this high smoking prevalence. Future efforts should focus on increasing Veterans' access to and knowledge of Veterans' health resources, and on developing innovative strategies to boost cessation in this population.

KW - Health disparities

KW - Homeless persons

KW - Smoking

KW - Veterans

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ER -

The association of military discharge variables with smoking status among homeless Veterans

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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