Predictors of 10-year smoking abstinence in smokers abstinent for 1 year after treatment.

AIMS: To identify factors predicting long-term relapse to smoking in people attending smoking treatment services who have maintained at least 1 year abstinence. DESIGN: Observational, prospective study with multiple logistic regression used to model predictors of relapse between 1 and 10 years from cessation using variables measured pre-cessation. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Among smokers receiving behavioural support for cessation in a clinic in Spain, in some cases with nicotine patches or bupropion, 366 had remained abstinent after 1 year of follow-up and were included into the study. MEASUREMENTS: Predictive measures (disease history, psychological disorder, age of starting smoking, years of smoking, cigarette dependence and smoking cessation treatment used) were obtained at the time of the quit attempt, and 'failure' (defined as reported smoking, loss to follow-up, died or an expired air carbon monoxide reading of > 5 parts per million) was assessed 10 years later. FINDINGS: At follow-up, abstinence status was confirmed in 50.5% (n = 185) of participants, while 21.0% (n = 77) reported that they had resumed smoking, and 28.5% (n = 104) were lost to follow-up (also counted as having resumed smoking). In the multiple regression model, the main factor that predicted relapse had a psychological disorder (odds ratio = 1.85, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-3.05; P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Having a psychological disorder at the time of stopping smoking is a risk factor for relapse to smoking, even after more than 1 year of abstinence.

Análisis psicométrico de la Escala de Soledad de UCLA (Versión 3) en una muestra de guardias civiles / No disponible

La soledad es un constructo psicológico complejo que influye en nuestra salud a través del estrés y el cortisol. En este estudio se analizó psicométricamente la traducción española de la UCLA Loneliness Scale (Versión 3) en una muestra de miembros de la Guardia Civil. Los resultados señalaron una fiabilidad adecuada (alfa de Cronbach 0,954) para fines de investigación y de evaluación de individuos concretos. Se calculó el índice KMO (0,969), la prueba de la esfericidad de Bartlett (χ2 (190)=14.406,221, ρ<0,000) y el determinante de la matriz de correlaciones (0,0000018), para estudiar la conveniencia de realizar un análisis factorial. Para dicho análisis se utilizó la matriz de correlaciones policóricas (explica el 81,49% de la varianza total), extrayendo dos componentes a través el método de Componentes Principales y la rotación Varimax (10.184 y 1.080). No parece necesario eliminar ni revisar ninguno de los ítems (correlación ítem-total 0,486-0,804). En consecuencia, se concluye que esta escala podría ser válida para estudiar cómo influye esta variable en el estado de salud de los miembros de este cuerpo de policía militarizado

Loneliness is a complex psychological construct that influences our health through stress and cortisol. In this study we examined psychometrically the Spanish translation of the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3) in a sample of members of the Guardia Civil. The results showed adequate reliability (Cronbach’s alpha .954) for research and evaluation of specific individuals. KMO index was calculated (.969), the Bartlett’s test of sphericity (χ2 (190)=14406.221, ρ<.000) and the determinant of the correlation matrix (.0000018), to examine the appropriateness of analysis factorial. For this analysis we used the polychoric correlation matrix (explains 81.49 % of the total variance), extracting two components through the principal components analysis (PCA) and varimax rotation (10,184 and 1,080). On the other hand, does not seem necessary to delete or revise any items (item-total correlation .486-.804). Consequently, it is concluded that this scale might be valid to study how this variable influences the health of the members of this militarized police force