Smoking prevention and cessation expert Alexander Prokhorov, M.D., Ph.D., and professor in the department of Behavioral Science at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, will use a $3.7 million defense fund to develop a videogame designed to help prevent and treat tobacco use in the United States military.

The videogame and supporting program is part of a study to be funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to promote health and stress management among the women and men serving in the armed forces. The $3.7 million dollar grant awarded to M. D. Anderson will solidify a partnership with the U.S. Army in Fort Hood, Texas to develop and launch the program.

"The tobacco use rates in the U.S. Army are alarming in that 38 percent of service members smoke cigarettes and 15 percent use smokeless tobacco," said Prokhorov, principal investigator for the study. "It's critical that U.S. Army service members realize that tobacco use may severely compromise physical and mental performance, and that we provide ways to help them kick these addictions or resist them in the first place."

The prototype for the interactive and educational videogame is modeled after "Escape With Your Life," another tobacco-cessation videogame developed through Prokhorov's research at M. D. Anderson. "We designed and pilot-tested "Escape With Your Life" for troubled, economically disadvantaged youth using DoD funds, and it has shown considerable promise," said Prokhorov. "The DoD site visitors who reviewed this program suggested we apply for a larger DoD grant to design a similar educational product specifically for the U.S. Army, and we are honored to be selected again."

See Full Article: Department of Defense Selects M. D. Anderson Behavioral Scientist to Lead Army Study to Prevent and Treat Tobacco Use
Alexander V. Prokhorov, M.D., Ph.D.