title: A three-year autoregressive cross-lagged panel analysis on nicotine dependence and average smoking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have been limited to the use of cross sectional data to identify the relationships between nicotine dependence and smoking. Therefore, it is difficult to determine a causal direction between the two variables. The purposes of this study were to 1) test whether nicotine dependence or average smoking was a more influential factor in smoking cessation; and 2) propose effective ways to quit smoking as determined by the causal relations identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a panel dataset from the central computerized management systems of community-based smoking cessation programs in Korea. Data were stored from July 16, 2005 to July 15, 2008. 711,862 smokers were registered and re-registered for the programs during the period. 860 of those who were retained in the programs for three years were finally included in the dataset. To measure nicotine dependence, this study used a revised Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence. To examine the relationship between nicotine dependence and average smoking, an autoregressive cross-lagged model was explored in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate that 1) nicotine dependence and average smoking were stable over time; 2) the impact of nicotine dependence on average smoking was significant and vice versa; and 3) the impact of average smoking on nicotine dependence is greater than the impact of nicotine dependence on average smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support the existing data obtained from previous research. Collectively, reducing the amount of smoking in order to decrease nicotine dependence is important for evidence-based policy making for smoking cessation.
authors: U-Health & Welfare, Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Tae Min
authors: TM
authors: Song
authors: Ji-Young
authors: JY
authors: An
authors: Laura L
authors: LL
authors: Hayman
authors: Gye Soo
authors: GS
authors: Kim
authors: Ju Yul
authors: JY
authors: Lee
authors: Hae Lan
authors: HL
authors: Jang