Assessing the level of nicotine dependence in smokers visiting a dental college in belgaum city: A questionnaire study

Aim and Objectives : To estimate the level of nicotine dependence in a group of smokers by using six- question Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine dependence (FTND). 1) To assess the level of nicotine dependence. 2) To evaluate the level of nicotine dependence with duration of the habit. Materials and Methods : The total sample size of the above study includes 130 patients. The age groups ranged between 16-60 years were selected. Six- questions from Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine dependence (FTND) were used to elicit the nicotine dependence. The study group included tobacco users with only smoking habit and excluded the subjects not willing to participate and also smokers who are also tobacco chewers. All the results were transferred onto Microsoft excel sheet and evaluated statistically by using Chi-square test. Results : Depending upon the age of the smokers, 4 grouping was done as follows. The number of individuals in study participation noticed between 21-30 years were 101 smokers (77.69%). With least noticed in >40 years age group 6 (4.6%). Frequency of smoking ranging between <5day to >10,day, no of smokers, with frequency of <5,day were more 91 (70%), followed by 6-10,day among 31 (23.85%) of them, with frequency of >10,day in 8 (6.15%) individuals. Duration of smoking mentioned in number of years ranging from <5 years to >10 years. Highest no. of smokers that is 105 (80.77%) were smoking <5 years with least number of smokers 5 (3.85%) smoking from last 10 years. Determines type of nicotine dependence, ranging from mild to severe variant. Majority of Nicotine dependence was mild noticed among 86 (66.15%). Smokers with least numbers noticed as severe nicotine dependence among 6 (4.62%) smokers. Association of duration of smoking with dependence statistical significance noticed. Statistical significant noticed between the association of frequency of smoking with dependence. Conclusion: Short study reveals the type of nicotine dependence, ranging from mild to severe by six- question Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine dependence (FTND) based on duration & frequency of smoking