The Lebanese Cigarette Dependence (LCD) Score: a comprehensive tool for cigarette dependence assessment

Cigarette smoking induces dependence.

The primary objective of this work was to validate the use of the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) in the Lebanese population, and to broaden it eventually by adding new items covering DSM-IV and ICD-10 dependence components.

We used data from two samples: a cross-sectional national study and a case-control study. A standardized questionnaire was administered, with items related to cigarette dependence: the FTND and the new Lebanon Cigarette Dependence (LCD) scale. For both tools, an exploratory factor analysis was performed on sample 1, while confirmatory factor analysis was performed on sample 2.

Although the FTND test showed satisfactory psychometric properties, the LCD showed better validity and reliability, covered dependence concept better, and showed a higher correlation with the number of times the participant tried to stop smoking (r = -0.087; p = 0.029 versus r = -0.215; p < 0.001).

FTND could be used in the Lebanese population; however, the LCD scale may be more useful.