Predicting smoking cessation with self-reported measures of nicotine dependence: FTQ, FTND, and HSI.
In two independent studies, we explored the usefulness of three self-report measures of tobacco dependence--the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ), the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and the Heavy Smoking Index (HSI). The FTND is a revised version of the FTQ. The HSI is identical to a two-question subset of the FTND. Study 1 involved 932 participants in a seven-session, five-week, group smoking cessation program, and it looked at the ability of these self-report tests to predict expired air carbon monoxide (i.e., heaviness of smoking) at beginning of treatment and cessation at end of treatment. Study 2 involved 1877 participants in a self-help smoking cessation program, and it looked at the prediction of cessation at 16-month follow-up. All tests made statistically reliable predictions of smoking cessation, but generally accounted for little variance (about 1%). In Study 1, the test scores were associated positively with carbon monoxide levels. The shorter (six vs. eight questions), more reliable FTND is to be preferred to the FTQ; and the HSI (two questions) works as well as the FTND. Evidence is presented that suggests that samples of high-scoring smokers will not be well differentiated from the mid-range to the high-end of the scores.
Program in Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park 16802.
L T
LT
Kozlowski
C Q
CQ
Porter
C T
CT
Orleans
M A
MA
Pope
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T
Heatherton
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001944:Breath Tests; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009538:Nicotine