Ghada Radwan

Citation:

Auf, R. A., G. N. Radwan, C. A. Loffredo, E. M. Setouhy, and M. K. Mohamed, Assessment of tobacco dependence, , 2012.

Abstract:

Waterpipe smoking is increasing worldwide.
Nevertheless, little is known about nicotine dependence
in tobacco smokers who use waterpipes.
OBJECTIVE:To assess evidence of dependence among
non-cigarette smoking waterpipe smokers in Egypt.
METHODS: A total of 154 male exclusive current waterpipe smokers were enrolled for the present study. We
adapted the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence and
the Reasons for Smoking (RFS) scales and related these
to smoking behavior.
RESULTS:The mean age of the subjects was 47±
14 years, the mean age at smoking initiation was 22±
9 years, and average daily consumption was 4± 8 hagars
(tobacco units). The time to the first smoke of the day
(P <0.001), smoking even when ill (P =0.003), time to
tobacco craving (P <0.001), and hating to give up the
first smoke of the day (P =0.033) were each significantly associated with the number of hagars smoked per
day. The RFS subscales of addictive smoking, smoking
to relieve negative affect, and smoking for stimulation
were also associated with these variables.
CONCLUSION: The overall findings suggest that waterpipe smokers exhibit many of the same features of nicotine dependency attributed to cigarette smokers.
KEY WORDS: waterpipe smoking; nicotine dependence;
FTND; RFS; Egypt