title: Psychometric Evaluation of the Cigarette Withdrawal Scale (Chinese Version) in Male Smokers in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Symptoms of smoking withdrawal are a central feature of nicotine dependence. A valid and reliable measure of these symptoms is important to better understand nicotine dependence and to develop effective interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Cigarette Withdrawal Scale (CWS-C).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study conducted cross-sectional surveys in two phases. In the first phase, exploratory factor analysis was used to test the underlying factor structure, the criterion validity, and the reliability of the CWS-C. A reliability test was conducted to assess the internal consistency and stability of the instrument. In the second phase, confirmatory factor analysis validated the factor model that had been proposed in earlier empirical research. The total sample size used in analysis was 497.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CWS-C achieved a level of efficacy that was similar to the English version. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the six factors of the instrument accounted for 80.3% of the variance. The full scale and all of the subscale items, with the exception of the appetite-weight gain subscale (r = .12, p = .09), were significantly associated with the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (r = .25-.50, p < .05). The Cronbach's alpha of the full scale was .93, with retest coefficient of .84. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the CWS-C had six correlated factors. Field testing showed that the CWS-C is a reliable and valid Chinese-language instrument for assessing the symptoms of cigarette withdrawal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CWS-C performed well in terms of reliability and validity in several tests conducted on male Taiwanese smokers. Accurate measurement is expected to help health professionals better understand smoker quitting patterns and the severity of withdrawal symptoms and to develop improved withdrawal-symptom treatment interventions.
authors.affiliation: 1MSN, RN, Research Assistant, Department of Nursing, Chang Jung Christian University 2MPH, MD, Family Physician, Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital 3MPH, MD, Family Physician, Department of Family Medicine, Erlin Branch, Changhua Christian Hospital 4PhD, RN, Professor, Department of Nursing, Chang Jung Christian University.
authors.forename: Hui-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kuang-Chieh
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: Chia-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chih-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology*