Abstract
The Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence (FTCD) (formally FTND) is widely used for measuring physical dependence on nicotine. To explore the cross cultural validity and reliability of FTCD amongst Arabic speaker cigarette consumers who chew khat leaf, a stimulant green leaf. The psychometric properties of the FTCD were assessed in a subsample (91 regular cigarette smokers) of purposively selected 204 UK-resident Yemeni khat chewers recruited during random visits to khat sale outlets. Data were collected via a structured face-to-face interview. Data analyses included descriptive tests and factor analysis. Two factors were obtained by a principle axis factor analysis and these were termed as urgency of restoring the level of nicotine after abstinence during sleeping and maintaining the level of nicotine during waking. The internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) of the whole FTCD is low (.68) as well as for the two subscales (.60) and (.62) respectively. The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the FTCD scale in this sample of Yemeni khat chewers who smoked regularly confirmed what has been established in other cultural settings. The findings of this study have yet to be cross validated amongst other appropriately representative sample of Arabic speakers.
Highlights
Cigarette smoking remains a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in the United States and other countries (Surgeon General’s report, 2004, 2010)
The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the FTCD scale in this sample of Yemeni khat chewers who smoked regularly confirmed what has been established in other cultural settings
30.0 cigarette dependence (0-2 scores), 30 (33.0%) low study confirmed as well that Factor 1 reflects the degree of cigarette dependence (3-4 scores), 12 (13.1%) medium 0urgency to restore nicotine levels to a given threshold after
Summary
Cigarette smoking remains a leading cause of preventable disease (cancer, heart disease) and premature death in the United States and other countries (Surgeon General’s report, 2004, 2010). The FTCD scale, formerly FTND, has been adapted globally as a measure of physical dependence on nicotine in particular cigarette (Fagerstrom, 2012) due to its ease of understanding and rapidity of application (De Meneses-Gaya et al, 2009). The psychometric properties of FTCD in Arabic speakers have not been tested, in particular amongst this group who smoke cigarette and chew khat concurrently. The Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence (FTCD) (formally FTND) is widely used for measuring physical dependence on nicotine. Objective: To explore the cross cultural validity and reliability of FTCD amongst Arabic speaker cigarette consumers who chew khat leaf, a stimulant green leaf. Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the FTCD scale in this sample of Yemeni khat chewers who smoked regularly confirmed what has been established in other cultural settings. The findings of this study have yet to be cross validated amongst other appropriately representative sample of Arabic speakers
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