مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Assessment of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) used in the determination of nicotine dependence and developing a new test for the nicotine dependence

Abstract :

Purpose: The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is a 6-item questionnaire, which is quite commonly used in determining nicotine dependence level. In this study, the effectiveness of FNDT was analyzed and the researchers attempted to develop a new test.Materials and methods: This is a methodological study. A total of 640 participants who admitted to smoking cessation center form the study group. As an indicator of the nicotine addiction level, though they applied to the smoking cessation center, “being unable to quit smoking” was considered.Firstly, a questionnaire including both FTND and questions about smoking addiction were applied to cases in the application process. The most efficient items in indicating nicotine addiction were determined among both FTND questions and the additional questions. A new test was created with these questions and compared with FTND.Correlation analysis, t and chi-square tests were used in the analysis of data.Results: The average age of a total of 640 patients is 41.4 and 71% of them are male. The rate of quitters after approximately 20-months monitoring period is 21.5%.When the relationship between each of FTND questions and “being unable to quit” was investigated, four questions were found to be highly related but two questions of FTND were not found to be related. The relationship between the additional questions about smoking and “being unable to quit smoking” was also investigated, and three questions were found to be highly related.These three questions were added separately to four questions of FTND and three different models were developed.The model obtained by adding the question “I d like a cigarette when I confab or drink tea” was found to be more efficient in determining the level of addiction compared to both FTND and other two models.Conclusion: Nicotine addiction level can be determined better with this newly revised 5-item questionnaire.