Uptake Continuum

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Choi, Gilpin, Farkas & Pierce (2001)

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Brief Description: This is a brief 10-item self-report instrument designed to measure smoking behavior across 7 stages. Specifically, items include respondents’ self-efficacy and intention to smoke, whether respondent ever smoked, age when smoked one whole cigarette, occurrence of daily smoking, number of days smoked in last 30, and whether a respondent has smoked at least 100 cigarettes.
Target Population: Adolescents, ages 12-18 years
Administrative Issues: This instrument can be administered over the phone.
Scoring Information:

Definition of Categories (also see Susceptibility to Smoking measure)
Committed Never Smoker: Has never smoked a cigarette, even a few puffs, and expresses a strong commitment not to smoke.
Susceptible Never Smoker: Has never smoked a cigarette, even a few puffs, but lacks a strong commitment not to smoke.
Puffer: Has puffed on a cigarette, but denies having smoked a whole cigarette.
Non-Current Experimenter: Reports smoking fewer than 100 cigarettes in lifetime, but has not smoked during the last 30 days.
Current Experimenter: Reports smoking fewer than 100 cigarettes in lifetime, and has smoked during the last 30 days.
Non-Current Established Smoker: Reports smoking at least 100 cigarettes in lifetime, but has not smoked during the last 30 days.
Current Established Smoker: Reports smoking at least 100 cigarettes in lifetime, and has smoked during the last 30 days.
Psychometrics:

Predictive validity (Choi et al, 2001):
<6 percent Committed Never Smokers progress to Established Smoking over a 3-4 yr period.
˜12 percent Susceptible Never Smokers and Puffers progress to Establish Smoking over a 3-4 yr period.
Susceptible Never Smokers are 2-3 times more likely to initiate smoking over a 3-4 yr period than are Committed Never Smokers.
˜80 percent of Current Established Smokers will still be smoking 3-4 yrs later.

Validity data:
Correlations with combined substance use level (tobacco, marijuana, alcohol): Control scale: 0.63, 0.71; Conduct scale: 0.36, 0.54.
Correlation with cigarette smoking: Control scale: 0.56, 0.61; Conduct scale: 0.23, 0.31.
Clinical Utility of Instrument: This instrument can be used to quantify smoking history and current smoking behavior in a standardized way.
Research Applicability: This instrument can be used to quantify smoking history and current smoking behavior in a standardized way.
Copyright, Cost, and Source Issues: No charge for use.
Source Reference: Choi, W. S., Gilpin, E. A., Farkas, A. J., Pierce, J. P. (2001). Determining the probability of future smoking among adolescents. Addiction, 2: 313-323.

Supporting References:

 None
Author: John P. Pierce, Ph.D.
Contact Information: Cancer Prevention and Control Program
Cancer Center
University of California, San Diego
LaJolla, CA 92093-0901
Email: jppierce@ucsd.edu
View Measure: DOC | PDF
Last Updated
September 24, 2020