The Young Adults' Cigarette Dependence (YACD) score: an improved tool for cigarette dependence assessment in university students

Background: Cigarette smoking induces dependence in young smokers.

Purpose: The primary objective of this work was to validate the use of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) in young Lebanese university students, and to improve it eventually by adding new items covering DSM-IV and ICD-10 dependence components.

Methods: We used data from a cross-sectional study on university students. A standardized questionnaire was administered, with items related to cigarette dependence: the FTND and the new Young Adults' Cigarette Dependence (YACD) scale. For both tools, factor and reliability analyses were performed.

Results: Although the FTND test showed satisfactory psychometric properties, the YACD showed better construct validity and reliability, covered dependence concept better and discriminated better between those who wanted to stop smoking and those who did not.

Conclusions: FTND could be used in university students' population; however, the YACD scale could be more useful.