The efficacy and predictive value of the Heavy Smoking Index for smoking cessation among daily smokers in a public health center. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bhang, Soo-Young; Choi, Sam-Wook; Ahn, Joon-Ho
• Is Part Of: Journal of substance use. Volume 19:Number 1/2(2014:Feb./Apr.)
• Page Start: 7
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Medication abuse -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2012.709911
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-9891

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>Objective:</italic> The present study tested the effectiveness of the Heavy Smoking Index (HSI) for the screening of high nicotine dependence and the predictive value of HSI on smoking cessation within a community sample in a public health center. <italic>Methods:</italic> The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scores from 1069 smokers who visited a public health center in Korea was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to calculate sensitivity and specificity values to compare the effectiveness of HSI to items 1 and 4 of FTND. In addition, HSI at baseline was found to predict smoking cessation after 4 weeks and after 6 months using logistic regression. We assessed whether HSI at baseline would predict smoking cessation after 4 weeks and after 6 months using logistical regression. <italic>Results:</italic> For the results, a score of 4 on HSI was considered optimal. Additionally, the predictive value for smoking cessation of both HSI and FTND were found to be statistically valid at baseline. <italic>Conclusions:</italic> Our results indicate that HSI is a useful brief screening tool to detect high nicotine dependence in a public health center.</p> </abstract>