INDICES> Fagerstrom Questionnaire vs. no. of cigs smoke

["M. Haniki Nik M" <haniki@usm.my>]

INDICES> Fagerstrom Questionnaire vs. no. of cigs smoke
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[rerouted from E-drug due to technical content; WB]


Hi,

I wonder if you know the strength of evidence for assessing nicotine
dependence using the Modified Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence
(MFTND) versus using the number of cigarette smoked, in relation to
initiating pharmacotherapy (e.g. using nicotine replacement therapy). Based
on the Fagerström score (FS), the recommendation is to start
pharmacotherapy when the it is > 4 (Heatherton TF, Kozlowski LT, Frecker
RC, Fagerström KO. The Fagerström test for nicotine dependence: a revision
of the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire. Br J Addict 1991;86:1119-27).
But, the Clinical Practice Guideline on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence
June 2000 (Fiore MC, Bailey WC, Cohen SJ, et al. U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. Public Health Service) did not mention the use of
Fagerström Test. According to this guideline, pharmacotherapy should be
offered to all smokers willing to quit, but special consideration is needed
when < 10 cigarettes are smoked daily.

I have have searched the Cochrane Library but did not find any definite
answer. Does anyone have any suggestions? Appreciate the help.

Regards,
Haniki

Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy Discipline
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 Pulau Pinang
MALAYSIA

Tel: 6-04-653 3888 x 4085 / 2229
Fax: 6-04-657 0017
e-mail: haniki@usm.my
Also, visit www.usm.my
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