Are we addressing relevant determinants of smoking cessation?

Validation of the Glover-Nilsson Smoking Behavioral Questionnaire (GN-SBQ) to Evaluate Nicotine Dependence in Spanish Clinical Settings

An assessment of the different aspects of tobacco addiction is central to adapting interventions to the profiles and needs of smokers. The Glover−Nilsson Smoking Behavioral Questionnaire (GN-SBQ) is one of the few and most used scales to evaluate the behavioral aspects of tobacco addiction. However, few studies involve the validation of the GN-SBQ in clinical settings. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the GN-SBQ in a sample of Spanish smokers. A total of 341 smokers attending clinical services in Spain participated in this cross-sectional study. Measures included the psychological factors related to tobacco addiction, assessed with the GN-SBQ, the physical factors of nicotine addiction, withdrawal symptoms, smoking-related variables, and alcohol use. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, internal consistency coefficients, confirmatory factor analyses, Spearman correlations, and the Kruskal−Wallis test. The GN-SBQ showed adequate reliability (α = 0.76 and ω = 0.76) and a unidimensional structure. GN-SBQ scores also provided evidence of convergent and concurrent validity. GN-SBQ scores significantly correlated with the physical symptoms of addiction, age, number of cigarettes, and withdrawal symptoms. The results of discriminant validity were also adequate, as no correlation was observed between GN-SBQ scores and CO levels or alcohol use. Significant differences were found between all levels of psychological addiction based on the GN-SBQ scores regarding physical nicotine addiction, withdrawal symptoms, and age. Thus, this questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument to assess the psychological aspects of tobacco addiction in smokers in clinical settings. The short length of the GN-SBQ proves advantageous for its use in time-limited assessments, which are common in public health services.

Effects of Respiratory Disorders on Smoking Cessation and Re-Initiation in an Italian Cohort Study

The present study aims to prospectively assess the influence of respiratory disorders on smoking cessation and re-initiation. Three population-based Italian cohorts answered a questionnaire on respiratory health and smoking habits during 1998–2001 and after a mean follow-up (SD) of 9.1 (0.8) years. Out of 1874 current smokers and 1166 ex-smokers at baseline, 965 (51.5%) and 735 (63.0%) reported their smoking status at follow-up. From current smokers, 312 had stopped smoking at follow-up, while 86 ex-smokers had resumed smoking. People reporting asthma at baseline were more likely to stop smoking than the other subjects (48.6% vs. 31.7%), while people reporting allergic rhinitis or chronic cough/phlegm had a higher probability to resume smoking (16.7% vs. 10.5% and 20.7% vs. 10.4%, respectively). In the multivariable logistic model, smoking relapse strongly decreased with increasing abstinence duration in people without chronic cough/phlegm (OR for ≥7.5 years vs. <7.5 years = 0.23, 95% CI 0.20–0.27), while no effect was detected in people with chronic cough/phlegm (p for interaction = 0.039). Smoking cessation was enhanced in asthmatic subjects, while people with allergic rhinitis or chronic cough/phlegm were at higher risk to resume smoking. Chronic cough/phlegm blunted the decrease in smoking resumption associated with longer abstinence duration.

Determinants of Smoking Status in a Sample of Outpatients Afferent to a Tertiary Referral Hospital

The identification of determinants of attempts to quit smoking and quitting smoking success is crucial for effective smoking prevention and/or cessation programs. Thus, here we have conducted a survey to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of tobacco use and the potential determinants of quitting smoking among a population of 140 subjects—101 smokers and 39 ex-smokers—referred to our clinic for respiratory diseases. Subject characteristics included demographic data, employment and education status, respiratory disease family history, smoking habits, life habits, diet, alcohol intake, and physical activity. In comparison with former smokers, active smokers were younger, lived with at least one smoking family member, and were more frequently exposed to passive smoke. They also displayed a higher coffee consumption, a higher frequency of in-between-meal snacks, and a lower chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence. In comparison with subjects who had never attempted to quit smoking, individuals who had attempted to quit smoking were younger, had a lower pack-year median, consumed a higher amount of coffee and alcohol, and conducted regular physical activity. Determinants of successful smoking cessation were older age, lower passive smoking exposure and daily coffee intake, and COPD diagnosis. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of health education in fostering successful smoking cessation in respiratory disease patients.