Purpose -Ex-service personnel face numerous and significant problems upon discharge from the forces. The purpose of this paper is to explore experiences of the transition from military to civilian life and to identify some of the barriers and facilitators to re-employment.Design/methodology/approach -In-depth interviews were carried out with 11 ex-servicemen who had previously served in the UK armed forces and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).Findings -Participants described their experiences in terms of three broad themes: characteristics of a military life; loss as experienced upon return to civilian life; and the attempt to bridge the gap between these two lives. Transcending these themes was the notion of identity, illustrating that the transition from military to civilian life can be viewed as a shift in sense of self from soldier to civilian.Research limitations/implications -The current study only recruited male ex-service personnel and therefore the findings may not accurately represent the experiences of female service leavers.Practical implications -The military needs to ensure that not only is support provided for all service personnel, but that it goes beyond basic vocational advice. Although the needs of ex-service personnel are defined by factors other than unemployment, such as trauma or the sudden loss of security, they do relate back to unemployment in some capacity. Methodological changes to the discharge process could help this population to achieve a more continuous trajectory rather than a fragmented one.Originality/value -The present study has provided further insight into the identity experiences of ex-service personnel along their journey from soldier to civilian. Breakwell's Identity Process Theory provided a valuable framework for understanding the experiences of ex-service personnel.

Background and Aims A combination of behavioural and pharmacological support is judged to be the optimal approach for assisting smoking cessation. Allen Carr's Easyway (ACE) is a single-session pharmacotherapy-free programme that has been in operation internationally for 38 years. We compared the effectiveness of ACE with specialist behavioural and pharmacological support delivered to the national standard in England. Design A two-arm, parallel-group, singleblind, randomized controlled trial. Setting London, UK, between February 2017 and May 2018. Participants A total of 620 participants (310 in ACE and 310 in the combined behavioural and pharmacological support condition) were included in the analysis. Adult (≥ 18 years) smokers wanting to quit were randomized in a 1 : 1 ratio. Mean age for the total sample was 40.8 years, with 53.4% being male. Participant baseline characteristics (ethnicity, educational level, number of previous quit attempts, nicotine dependence) were evenly balanced between treatment groups. Intervention and comparator The intervention was the ACE method of stopping smoking. This centres on a 4.5-6-hour session of group-based support, alongside subsequent text messages and top-up sessions if needed. It aims to make it easy to stop smoking by convincing smokers that smoking provides no benefits for them. The comparator was a specialist stop smoking service (SSS) providing behavioural and pharmacological support in accordance with national standards. MeasurementsThe primary outcome was self-reported continuous abstinence for 26 weeks from the quit/quit re-set date verified by exhaled breath carbon monoxide measurement < 10 parts per million (p.p.m.). Primary analysis was by intention to treat. Secondary outcomes were: use of pharmacotherapy, adverse events and continuous abstinence up to 4 and 12 weeks. Findings A total of 468 participants attended treatment (255 ACE versus 213 SSS, P < 0.05). Of those who did attend treatment, 100 completed 6-month measures (23.7% ACE versus 20.7% SSS). Continuous abstinence to 26 weeks was 19.4% (60 of 310) in the ACE intervention and 14.8% (46 of 310) in the SSS intervention [risk difference for ACE versus SSS 4.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.4 to 10.4%, odds ratio (OR) = 1.38)]. The Bayes factor for superiority of the ACE condition was 1.24. Conclusion There was no clear evidence of a difference in the efficacies of the Allen Carr's Easyway (ACE) and specialist smoking cessation support involving behavioural support and pharmacotherapy.

Following a flexible and tailored intervention for PPCS, patients report feeling empowered and describe having a renewed sense of stability.

AimsPoliticians and journalists have made many claims about the impact of the London Olympic Games 2012. The present study aimed to explore the impact of the Games on physical activity, general health status, well–being and national identity.MethodA survey was conducted in Stratford, London at two time points: October 2011 (N=366) and October 2012 (N=406).ResultsThe results showed no differences in actual or intended physical activity levels or positive mood from before to after the Games. In contrast to predictions, however, participants after the Games reported greater negative mood and lower perceived health status. In addition, although no overall changes in national identity were found, more Black participants reported that being British was important to them after the Games (77.8 per cent) compared to before (55.7 per cent).ConclusionThere was no evidence for the predicted increase in physical activity, health status or well–being after the Games. In fact, after a year both mood and perceived health status were lower than before. Black people, however, showed a stronger allegiance to their British national identity after the Games compared to before. The London Olympic Games 2012 appears not to have had the predicted positive impact on some aspects of health by one year. Perhaps, however, the multicultural mix of Team GB has had a positive impact of the sense of national identity on the multicultural population of Stratford.