Testing the nicotine dependence measure mFTQ for adolescent smokers: A multinational investigation
Corresponding Author
Alexander V. Prokhorov MD, PhD
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Address correspondence to Dr. Prokhorov, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGeorges E. Khalil MPH, PhD
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Search for more papers by this authorDawn W. Foster PhD
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Search for more papers by this authorSalma K. Marani MS
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Search for more papers by this authorMichele Guindani PhD
Department of Statistics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
Search for more papers by this authorJose P. Espada PhD
Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Valenciana
Search for more papers by this authorMaria T. Gonzálvez MS
Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Valenciana
Search for more papers by this authorBulat Idrisov MD
Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Bashkortostan
Search for more papers by this authorArtur Galimov MD
Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Bashkortostan
Search for more papers by this authorMonika Arora PhD, MSc
Health Promotion and Tobacco Control Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi
HRIDAY, Health Related Information Dissemination Among Youth, New Delhi
Search for more papers by this authorAbha Tewari PhD
Health Promotion and Tobacco Control Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi
HRIDAY, Health Related Information Dissemination Among Youth, New Delhi
Search for more papers by this authorRichard Isralowitz PhD
Ben Gurion University, Be'er Sheva, Israel
Search for more papers by this authorPunyarat Lapvongwatana PhD
School of Public Health Mahidol University, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand
Search for more papers by this authorNatkamol Chansatitporn PhD
School of Public Health Mahidol University, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand
Search for more papers by this authorXinguang Chen PhD
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Wuhan Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Hubei Sheng, China
Search for more papers by this authorSteve Sussman PhD
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Alexander V. Prokhorov MD, PhD
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Address correspondence to Dr. Prokhorov, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGeorges E. Khalil MPH, PhD
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Search for more papers by this authorDawn W. Foster PhD
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Search for more papers by this authorSalma K. Marani MS
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Search for more papers by this authorMichele Guindani PhD
Department of Statistics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
Search for more papers by this authorJose P. Espada PhD
Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Valenciana
Search for more papers by this authorMaria T. Gonzálvez MS
Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Valenciana
Search for more papers by this authorBulat Idrisov MD
Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Bashkortostan
Search for more papers by this authorArtur Galimov MD
Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Bashkortostan
Search for more papers by this authorMonika Arora PhD, MSc
Health Promotion and Tobacco Control Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi
HRIDAY, Health Related Information Dissemination Among Youth, New Delhi
Search for more papers by this authorAbha Tewari PhD
Health Promotion and Tobacco Control Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi
HRIDAY, Health Related Information Dissemination Among Youth, New Delhi
Search for more papers by this authorRichard Isralowitz PhD
Ben Gurion University, Be'er Sheva, Israel
Search for more papers by this authorPunyarat Lapvongwatana PhD
School of Public Health Mahidol University, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand
Search for more papers by this authorNatkamol Chansatitporn PhD
School of Public Health Mahidol University, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand
Search for more papers by this authorXinguang Chen PhD
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Wuhan Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Hubei Sheng, China
Search for more papers by this authorSteve Sussman PhD
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background and Objectives
As a measure of nicotine dependence among adolescent smokers, the modified Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (mFTQ; seven items), has been successfully used in the United States (USA). Nonetheless, the validity and reliability of mFTQ at the international level is still needed. The current study is the first to test the validity and reliability of mFTQ in four countries: Thailand, Spain, the USA, and Russia.
Methods
In a cross-sectional survey, mFTQ, risk factors of nicotine dependence, and sociodemographic characteristics were assessed. Risk factors included age of first cigarette, frequency of alcohol use, frequency of marijuana use, and number of cigarettes smoked yesterday. Salivary cotinine was also obtained in Thailand and Spain.
Results
For all four countries, mFTQ exhibited a single factor structure, as supported by previous work in the USA. For all studied countries except Thailand, mFTQ presented acceptable internal reliability. Overall, risk factors of nicotine dependence have predicted mFTQ scores across countries. Frequency of alcohol use in the USA and frequency of marijuana use in Thailand and Spain were not associated with mFTQ scores.
Discussion and Conclusions
mFTQ is a single-factor measure of nicotine dependence that shows acceptable internal consistency and validity across countries. Further work can advance the scale and tailor it to different cultures.
Scientific Significance
mFTQ can be a clinically practical international measure of nicotine dependence. This study provides initial support for the utility of the mFTQ among Thai, Spanish, American, and Russian adolescents. Further research is needed to test and advance mFTQ across cultures. (Am J Addict 2017;26:689–696)
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