The US Veterans Administration (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) have collaboratively developed a new evidence-based clinical practice guideline to help veterans and military personnel quit tobacco use.
UW-CTRI Director of Veterans Research Dr. Jessica Cook served as one of 10 tobacco experts on a workgroup that developed it. The workgroup met weekly since June 2024 and gathered in Washington, DC for four days to review current evidence and develop treatment recommendations.
The panel systematically reviewed 952 full-text publications, weighing the benefits and harms of interventions, and applicability across diverse populations and settings.
“It was an incredibly rigorous process that was ultimately a really rewarding experience,” Cook said. “It was especially gratifying to see UW-CTRI research studies help inform these new clinical guidelines that will benefit veterans and military personnel.”
These guidelines can assist healthcare providers with important questions such as how to treat tobacco use if the patient isn’t feeling ready to quit, or how to treat smokeless tobacco use, which is especially prevalent among VA and DOD populations.
Along with the 32 recommendations described in the guideline, there are also tailored summaries for clinicians and for patients.
For example, for patients, it answers questions like, “If everyone in my unit smokes, why should I quit?”
The handbook points out that continued tobacco use can hurt job performance, including poorer night vision and endurance. “Even if everyone in your social circle smokes or vapes, it’s okay to think about your own long-term health,” Cook said.
To read the VA guideline, click here.