Validation of the modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire with salivary cotinine among adolescents

This study was conducted to gain evidence of validity for a nicotine depend ence measure for adolescent smokers. We hypothesized that the individual it em responses and the total Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ) score w ould be positively correlated with cotinine values. We examined the relatio nship between a seven-item modified FTQ and saliva continue among 131 adole scent volunteers in a smoking cessation program. As anticipated, the total FTQ score was related to saliva cotinine (r =.40, p <.01), as were six of t he seven individual FTQ items (p <.05). Our findings provide preliminary ev idence that the modified FTQ scale is valid and applicable to adolescent sm okers. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.