Validation of the modified Fagerström tolerance questionnaire with salivary cotinine among adolescents.

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to gain evidence of validity for a nicotine dependence measure for adolescent smokers. We hypothesized that the individual item responses and the total Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ) score would be positively correlated with cotinine values. We examined the relationship between a seven-item modified FTQ and saliva continine among 131 adolescent volunteers in a smoking cessation program. As anticipated, the total FTQ score was related to saliva cotinine (r = .40, p < .01), as were six of the seven individual FTQ items (p < .05). Our findings provide preliminary evidence that the modified FTQ scale is valid and applicable to adolescent smokers.