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Published on: April 23, 2014
Development and testing of the barriers to cessation scale
1East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.
Nursing Research
|July 1, 1995
Summary
This study developed a new scale to measure barriers to smoking cessation. Higher scores on this scale predicted relapse in individuals attempting to quit smoking.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Smoking cessation is a major public health goal.
- Identifying barriers is crucial for effective interventions.
- Existing measures may not fully capture the stress-related aspects of cessation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a new measure of barriers to smoking cessation.
- To conceptualize cessation barriers within the Transactional Model of Stress.
- To assess the reliability and validity of the new scale.
Main Methods:
- A 19-item scale was developed to assess smoking cessation barriers.
- The scale was tested in three separate studies.
- Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha; validity was examined using the Daily Hassles Scale and prediction of relapse.
Main Results:
- The scale demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from .81 to .87.
- Construct validity was supported by significant correlations with the Daily Hassles Scale.
- Barrier scores significantly predicted smoking relapse at 8 weeks post-cessation.
Conclusions:
- The developed measure is a reliable and valid tool for assessing smoking cessation barriers.
- The Transactional Model of Stress provides a useful framework for understanding these barriers.
- This measure can aid in identifying individuals at higher risk of relapse and tailoring interventions.

