Nicotine addiction and environmental tobacco smoke exposure

Abstract

In present study it was aimed to determine the general characteristics of cases who cause environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. One hundred and forty five cases (53/92, F/M) who admitted to smoking cessation clinic were asked about general demographic characteristics, the history of ETS exposure in childhood and whether they cause of ETS exposure or not. Also Fagernström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and hospital anxiety depression test (HADT) were performed. The mean age of the cases was 42.2 years. It was determined that 71% of cases exposed ETS in childhood and 69% of cases cause ETS exposure. There was no effect of the number of cigarette smoked per day and the amount of packet/years on to cause ETS exposure. The cases who cause ETS exposure to be forced more than others in places that it is forbidden smoking (p= 0.045), FTND score was higher (mean= 5.9) than others (mean= 4.8) (p= 0.009). The FTND score was ≥ 5 in 72% of cases who cause ETS exposure and in 53.3% of others (p= 0.045). 117 of cases were performed HADT, symptoms related with anxiety and depression were detected in 45 and 54 of cases respectively. The mean anxiety score was higher in cases who cause ETS exposure (p= 0.025). The symptoms related with anxiety and depression were determined similar in cases who cause ETS exposure or not. It was identified that there was no effect of gender, education, business status, another smoker at home, history of ETS exposure in childhood, socioeconomic status and to have knowledge about passive smoking on to cause ETS exposure. Prevention of nicotine addiction to be developed by starting smoking precludes the onset of the diseases related to smoking, and also enables inhibition of ETS exposure especially at home.