Relationship Between Frequency and Intensity of Cigarette Smoking and TTFC/C Among Students of the GYTS in Select Countries, 2007‐2009. (September 2014) - Lam, Eugene
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND This study assessed the construct validity of a measure of nicotine dependence that was used in the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS). METHODS Using 2007‐2009 data from the GYTS, subjects from 6 countries were used to assess current smokers' odds of reporting time to first cigarette or craving positive (TTFC/C+) by the number of cigarette smoking days per month (DPM) and the number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD). RESULTS The percentage of GYTS smokers who reported TTFC/C+ ranged from 58.0% to 69.7%. Compared with students who smoked on 1‐2 DPM, those who smoked on 3‐9 DPM had 3 times the adjusted odds of reporting TTFC/C+. The adjusted odds of reporting TTFC/C+ were 3 to 7 times higher among those who smoked 10‐29 DPM and 6 to 20 times higher among daily smokers. Similarly, the adjusted odds of TTFC/C+ were 3‐6 times higher among those who smoked 2‐5 CPD and 6 to 20 times higher among those who smoked >6 CPD, compared to those who smoked <1 CPD. CONCLUSION Associations of TTFC/C+ prevalence with both frequency and intensity of cigarette smoking provide a construct validation of the GYTS question used to assess respondents' TTFC/C status.