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Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence

Measures nicotine dependence with six questions about smoking.

When to use

Assessment of nicotine dependence intensity in adults who smoke.

Pearls and pitfalls
  • Time to the first cigarette is the heaviest item, worth up to 3 points.
  • The score does not measure motivation to quit or withdrawal symptoms.
  • High dependence may indicate the need for pharmacotherapy and closer follow-up.

Time to the first cigarette of the day

Difficulty refraining in places where smoking is forbidden

Cigarette most difficult to give up

Cigarettes per day

Smokes more during the first hours of the day

Smokes even when ill

Fill in the fields to see the result.

Formula

Sum the points from six items: time to first cigarette, forbidden places, hardest cigarette, daily amount, morning smoking and smoking while ill.

Evidence

Revised nicotine tolerance questionnaire, with items selected for their relation to biochemical measures of smoking intensity.

References

  1. Heatherton TF, Kozlowski LT, Frecker RC, Fagerstrom KO. The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence: a revision of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire. Br J Addict. 1991;86(9):1119-1127. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1991.tb01879.x

Frequently asked questions

What is Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence?

Measures nicotine dependence with six questions about smoking. Assessment of nicotine dependence intensity in adults who smoke.

How is the result calculated?

Sum the points from six items: time to first cigarette, forbidden places, hardest cigarette, daily amount, morning smoking and smoking while ill.

How should the result be interpreted?

Revised nicotine tolerance questionnaire, with items selected for their relation to biochemical measures of smoking intensity.

What are the sources?

Heatherton TF, Kozlowski LT, Frecker RC, Fagerstrom KO. The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence: a revision of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire. Br J Addict. 1991;86(9):1119-1127.

Updated