Fagerström Test and Heaviness Smoking Index. Are they Interchangeable as a Dependence Test for Nicotine?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of agreement between the Fagerström Test for Cigarette Dependence (FTCD) and the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) in daily smokers admitted to smoking cessation clinics from National Healthcare System in Spain and Argentine Republic. Material and methods: An observational, longitudinal, multicenter study (prospective cohort) conducted in smoking clinics in daily clinical practice. The patients were consecutively included as they attended the consultations. The statistical analysis was descriptive, and correlation and concordance tests as well as analysis and regression models were used. Results: In total, 308 subjects were included [161 women (52.3%)], with a mean age of 51.4 (10.8) years. We found an absence of agreement and the existence of a proportional difference between both tests [Regression coefficient for global series: 0.55 (0.52-0.59) p < .001]. This difference increased as the value of the FTCD score increased; that is, the higher the value of the FTCD score was, the greater the difference in relation to the value of the HSI score. Likewise, Cohen's kappa concordance coefficient, according to various combinations of categorization of both tests, showed that the agreement between these variables was only good. Approximately 20% of the subjects were not classified with the same degree of dependence by the two tests. Thus, a classification mismatch existed. Conclusions: We found an absence of agreement between both tests. These data imply that we should not substitute one test for the other when we analyze nicotine dependence in a population of smokers.

[Positioning Document of Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) on Tobacco Harm Reduction Strategies]. / Documento de posicionamiento de la Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR) ante las estrategias de reducción del daño del tabaco.

In the last decade, the appearance of electronic cigarettes and new tobacco products (heated tobacco or smokeless tobacco) has generated a growing interest in harm reduction methods that are defined as mechanisms that seek to reduce the harmful consequences of tobacco without give up the pleasant effects of it by replacing it with these new electronic devices. However, these products are addictive and not safe as they contain nicotine. Harm reduction is a false solution as it represents a commercial strategy of the tobacco industry to increase its sales, making it difficult to control smoking, since it keeps smokers from consuming tobacco and prevents them from making serious attempts to quit. In addition, these products are a gateway to adolescents in tobacco.

Is There an Association Between the Degree of Nicotine Dependence and the Motivation to Stop Smoking? / ¿Existe asociación entre el grado de dependencia por la nicotina y la motivación para dejar de fumar?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between degrees of nicotine dependence measured by the Fagerström test (FTCD) and different tests of motivation to stop smoking. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational study, multicenter conducted in smoking clinics in daily clinical practice. Demographics, smoking status, FTCD scores, and motivation test results were collected: Richmond test (TR), Henri Mondor Paris motivation test (HMP), Khimji-Watts test (KW), and the visual analog scale of motivation to stop smoking. The statistical analysis was descriptive, and correlation and analysis tests and regression models were used. RESULTS: A total of 314 subjects were included [162 women (51.59%)]. Males smoked an average of 3.3 cigarettes/day more than women (95% CI: 0.9-5.6 cigarettes/day, p=0.006) and their cumulative consumption was 7.8 pack-years higher than in women (95% CI: 2.1 to 13.5 pack-years). We found no association between FTCD and the motivation tests to stop smoking used in this study. CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between the degree of dependence and the motivation to quit smoking measured by the aforementioned instruments.

¿Existe asociación entre el grado de dependencia por la nicotina y la motivación para dejar de fumar? / Is There an Association Between the Degree of Nicotine Dependence and the Motivation to Stop Smoking?

Objetivo: Evaluar la existencia de asociación entre el grado de dependencia por la nicotina medido por el test de Fagerström (FTCD) y diferentes test de motivación para dejar de fumar. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional y multicéntrico realizado en consultas de tabaquismo en la práctica clínica diaria. Se recogieron variables demográficas, de estatus de fumador y las puntuaciones del FTCD y los test de motivación: test de Richmond (TR), test motivacional Henri Mondor de París (HMP), test Khimji-Watts (KW) y la escala analógica visual de motivación para dejar de fumar. El análisis estadístico fue descriptivo y se utilizaron test de correlación y análisis y modelos de regresión. Resultados: Fueron incluidos 314 sujetos (162 mujeres [51,59%]). Los varones fumaron en promedio 3,3cig/día más que las mujeres (IC95%: 0,9-5,6cig/día, p = 0,006) y tuvieron un consumo acumulado superior a las mujeres en 7,8 años-paquete (IC95%: 2,1 a 13,5 años-paquete). No se encontró asociación entre el FTCD y los test de motivación para dejar de fumar empleados en este estudio. Conclusiones: No hemos encontrado asociación entre el grado de dependencia y la motivación para dejar de fumar medidos por los instrumentos mencionados

Objective: To evaluate the association between degrees of nicotine dependence measured by the Fagerström test (FTCD) and different tests of motivation to stop smoking. Material and methods: Observational study, multicenter conducted in smoking clinics in daily clinical practice. Demographics, smoking status, FTCD scores, and motivation test results were collected: Richmond test (TR), Henri Mondor Paris motivation test (HMP), Khimji-Watts test (KW), and the visual analog scale of motivation to stop smoking. The statistical analysis was descriptive, and correlation and analysis tests and regression models were used. Results: A total of 314 subjects were included [162 women (51.59%)]. Males smoked an average of 3.3 cigarettes/day more than women (95% CI: 0.9-5.6 cigarettes/day, p = 0.006) and their cumulative consumption was 7.8 pack-years higher than in women (95% CI: 2.1 to 13.5 pack-years). We found no association between FTCD and the motivation tests to stop smoking used in this study. Conclusions: We found no association between the degree of dependence and the motivation to quit smoking measured by the aforementioned instruments

¿En qué momento deberíamos medir la autoeficacia para ayudar a dejar de fumar? / When Should We Measure Self-Efficacy as an Aid to Smoking Cessation?

No disponible