Purpose: This study examined nicotine dependence levels among heated tobacco product (HTP) users and identifiedassociated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted a secondary analysis of data from 186 HTP users,drawn from 286 adults recruited via convenience sampling through an online survey. Nicotine dependence wasmeasured using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (high ≥6, low ≤5). Group differences were examinedusing x2 tests, and associated factors were identified via logistic regression. Results: The mean nicotine dependencescore was 2.98±2.40, with 15.6% classified as highly dependent. High dependence was more prevalent inparticipants with no intention to quit (30.3%) than in those with a quit plan (7.5%) (x2=16.82, p<.001). Regardingusage, 48.3% of those using ≥20 HTPs per day showed high dependence, compared to 10.9% (1~10 HTPs perday) and 3.4% (11~19 HTPs per day) (x2=28.90, p<.001). Logistic regression showed that having no intention toquit (OR=4.31, 95% CI=1.61~11.49) and using ≥20 HTPs per day (OR=6.36, 95% CI=1.84~21.99) were significantlyassociated with high dependence. Conclusion: Higher HTP use was associated with greater nicotine dependenceand may be linked to continued smoking. Efforts to improve users' risk perceptions of HTPs are therefore needed.
Lee et al. (Tue,) studied this question.