[Study of correlation between different scales that measure smoking dependence]

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Behavioral Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Nicotine dependence is a complex condition with varying assessment methods.
• Accurate measurement of smoking dependence is crucial for effective cessation interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the correlation between three measures of smoking dependence: Fagerström Test Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Glover-Nilsson Smoking Behavioral Dependence (GN-SBQ), and self-perceived dependence (SPD).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in an urban primary health-care center.
• Participants (n=214 daily smokers, aged 18-65) self-administered questionnaires electronically.
• Nicotine dependence was assessed using FTND, GN-SBQ, and SPD, with statistical analysis including Pearson correlation.

Main Results:

• Significant discrepancies were found in dependence levels: FTND (17.3%), GN-SBQ (15.4%), and SPD (69.6%) indicated high/very high dependence.
• Moderate correlation (r≈0.5) existed between the three tests.
• High rates of non-concordance were observed: FTND vs. SPD (70.6%), GN-SBQ vs. FTND (40.7% underestimation by FTND), and SPD vs. GN-SBQ (64% underestimation by GN-SBQ).

Conclusions:

• Self-perceived dependence (SPD) is reported significantly higher than objective measures (FTND, GN-SBQ).
• The FTND may underestimate dependence severity, potentially excluding patients eligible for pharmacotherapy (e.g., FTND score >7).
• Clinical assessment should consider multiple dependence measures for accurate patient stratification in smoking cessation programs.