Screening for Smoking in a General Hospital: Scale Validation, Indicators of Prevalence, and Comorbidity

PURPOSE: The study aims to conduct a psychometric study of the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and to assess the prevalence, sociodemographic profile, and psychiatric comorbidities of smokers in a general hospital. DESIGN AND METHODS: Two hundred sixty-four inpatients were elegible for inclusion in the study and assessed with Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV (Module E), Patient Health Questionnaire, Fast Alcohol Screening Test, and FTND. FINDINGS: The cut-off note two of the FTND is the most adequate to identify tobacco abuse/dependence (sensibility: 0.59–0.76). The reliability was estimated to be 0.68–0.96. A 44% rate of tobacco abuser/dependent patients was detected, with a 28% rate of psychiatric comorbidity. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Detection of the smoking habits at the time of hospitalization can be opportune, favoring the planning and the beginning of treatment.