Use of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire for measuring nicotine dependence among adolescent smokers in China: A pilot test

The validity of the Prokhorov adolescent version of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ) has not been demonstrated in assessing nicotine dependence among Chinese adolescents in China. Data for 48 tenth-grader 30-day smokers in Wuhan, China (ages 16-17 years), were analyzed. Two different item scoring protocols were used, and self-reports of smoking were validated with saliva cotinine. When items were scored using Protocol A, Cronbach's alphas were .42 and .63 for the 7-item and the 4-item scales. respectively; while using Protocol B, the alphas were .67 and .79 for the 7-item and 4-item scales, respectively. The total FTQ scores were significantly associated with self-reported smoking and saliva cotinine levels. These results support the reliability and validity of the Prokhorov FTQ.