Heydari Gh¹ * , Hosseini M², Ramezankhani A³, Sharifi H¹, Masjedi MR⁴

  1- Tobacco Prevention and Control Research Center, Tehran, Iran

  2- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of public health, Department of epidemiology and biostatistics, Tehran, Iran

  3- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, school of health, department of health's education

  4- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, school of medicine, department of pulmonology, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases

  Abstract

 Introduction: One of the most important issues in tobacco control is to organize smoking cessation programs. It is necessary to find nicotine dependency in smokers to be able to choose the proper treatment method this is found by Fagerstorm Test. For easier assessment of cigarette dependency, this study was designed for the first time in Iran.

 Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during 2006-2008 in smoking cessation clinic of Tobacco Prevention and Control Research Center affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. All the entrants of a four-session per week program of smoking cessation, have been assessed by Firestorm Test by a physician. Those who quit smoking were followed after 6 and 12 months.

 Results: 822 participants (72% male) with mean age of 42.5 ± 13 years (range: 18-86) were studied. 71% of them were married. The mean score of Fagerstrom Test for 754 persons was 5.8 ± 2.6 (range: 0-10, frequency of 0: 4%, frequency of 10: 6%), with median of 5 and mode of 8 (106 persons, 14.05%). The scores of 218 persons (29%) were below 4 (low dependency), 38% were between 5-7 (medium dependency) and 33% were between 8-10 (high dependency). Pierson Coefficient between total score and the first question (first time smoking in the morning) was 0.82. Besides, evaluation of Kronbach a in first question omission had maximum effect (-0.10) on the test result.

 Conclusion: Smoking during the first 5 minutes in the morning had the most important effect on finding high nicotine dependency.

 Keywords : cigarette, nicotine, fagerstrom, dependency.

 Hakim Research Journal 2009 12(1): 42- 47.

  * Corresponding Author: Shahid Bahonar Ave, Darabad, Tehran, Iran 19556, PO: 19575/154, Iran.
Tel: 20109991 Fax:20109484 E.mail : mrmasjedi@nritld.ac.ir