Measuring nicotine dependence among smokeless tobacco users

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Clinical Psychology
• Tobacco Research

Background:

• Nicotine dependence assessment is crucial for effective tobacco cessation interventions.
• Smokeless tobacco (ST) use presents unique challenges in dependence measurement.
• Existing instruments may not accurately capture dependence severity in ST users.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the concurrent validity of the FTQ-ST against the DIS-IV for diagnosing nicotine dependence in adult ST users.
• To determine the reliability of the FTQ-ST in a clinical trial setting for ST users.
• To explore correlations between FTQ-ST scores and objective measures of nicotine exposure and cessation outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 68 adult ST users.
• Concurrent assessment using the FTQ-ST and the DIS-IV for nicotine dependence.
• Correlation analysis with serum cotinine levels and tobacco consumption.
• Evaluation of abstinence rates at 3 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in FTQ-ST scores between individuals with and without DIS-IV nicotine dependence diagnosis.
• Observed agreement between FTQ-ST and DIS-IV was no better than chance.
• FTQ-ST scores correlated positively with serum cotinine and tobacco use.
• FTQ-ST scores predicted a reduced likelihood of 3-month abstinence.

Conclusions:

• The FTQ-ST demonstrates poor concurrent validity for assessing nicotine dependence in ST users when compared to the DIS-IV.
• Clinical implications suggest caution when using FTQ-ST alone for this population.
• Further research is needed to develop or validate accurate dependence measures for ST users.