The recent guidelines Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence indicate that a smoker’s level of nicotine dependence has implications for tailoring treatment to improve the likelihood of cessation. Currently, a quick and inexpensive way to assess dependence is with the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) – an index based on scores for number of cigarettes smoked per day and time to first cigarette upon waking. Here, we examine whether similar information could be obtained using only one question.
In 2000, adults residing in Ontario, Canada were randomly selected for a computer-assisted telephone interview (n=1,607; response rate=60%). HSI scores were calculated, ranging from 0 (low) to 6 (high) dependence. Current smokers were also asked: “thinking about your own smoking, would you say that you are very addicted to cigarettes, somewhat addicted to cigarettes, or not at all addicted to cigarettes?”
HSI and respondents’ self-perceptions about addiction were significantly associated (Spearman’s rho=0.47; Chi2(12)=82.40, p<0.0001). The relationship between the measures was significant for respondents aged 25-44 (p<0.001) and 45-64 (p<0.05), but not for respondents aged 18-24 or older than 65, although correlations for all four agegroups ranged from 0.43 to 0.46. The correlation between the two measures was stronger for women (0.52) than for men (0.41), and for smokers of “light” or “mild” (0.50) vs. regular (0.26) cigarettes.
A simple question asking smokers for their perceptions about their own level of addiction is a potentially useful tool for clinicians, particularly if patients are aged 25-64. Implications for research and practice will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the relationship between nicotine dependence and self-perceptions of addiction. 2. Identify implications of using a one-item measure of addiction for research and practice.
Keywords: Tobacco, Substance Abuse Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
Disclosure not received
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