Critical Synthesis Package: Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence

Abstract This Critical Synthesis Package contains: (1) a Critical Analysis of the psychometric properties and applications to health sciences education for the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and (2) a copy of the FTND instrument and scoring key developed by Karl Fagerstrom, PhD. The FTND is a brief, self-report measure that assesses intensity of physical dependence to nicotine. The total score ranges from 0 to 10 with 0-2 indicating very low dependence; 3-4 indicating low dependence; 5 indicating medium dependence; 6-7 indicating high dependence; and 8-10 indicating very high dependence. The FTND has multiple versions of varying psychometric qualities. The FTND has adequate reliability, but questionable validity. Specifically, research is conflicting on whether the FTND is a single factor or multi factor structure. Further, the FTND appears to measure only a certain aspect of nicotine dependence and leaves out DSM dependence criteria. Similarly, while this is a brief assessment, findings should be interpreted with caution as individuals identified as nicotine dependent by the FTND are different from those identified as nicotine dependent by other tools.