Does Self-Rated Addiction and the Heaviness of Smoking Index Predict Nicotine Replacement Therapy Product Use in Adolescent Smokers?

Abstract

Few studies have examined predictors of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product use among adolescents. Using a population-based sample of 14- to 18-year-olds, we examined if self-rated addiction and Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) were associated with NRT use in 913 daily smokers. The ever-use prevalence of NRT was 24%. Boys smoked more cigarettes per day than girls and scored higher on HSI, but they perceived themselves to be less addicted. Compared to nonusers, a greater proportion of NRT users perceived themselves as addicted and demonstrated greater dependence on HSI. Perceiving oneself as addicted and having high HSI scores were associated with NRT use.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescent
• Heaviness of Smoking Index
• nicotine replacement therapy
• self-rated addiction
• smoking

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland (§27 appropriation of the Tobacco Act, grant number 137/THL/TE/2010), the Academy of Finland (grant number 130481), the Competitive Research Funding of the Pirkanmaa Hospital District (grant number 9L084), and the Juho Vainio Foundation. The authors thank Mr. Lasse Pere, Tampere School of Public Health, for the Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey data management.

Notes

Note. p =difference between boys and girls.

^a NRT = nicotine replacement therapy.

Note. p =difference between NRT use and non-NRT use.

Note. OR is given in boldface when it indicates a statistically significant (p < .005) difference from the odds of the reference category.

^a Age and gender-adjusted.

^b adjusted for SRA and HSI.