Reliability and validity of a smoking timeline follow-back interview.

Abstract

Smokers with past major depressive disorder participating in a smoking cessation treatment study were interviewed at 6, 26, and 29 weeks postquit to retrospectively assess their smoking behavior using the timeline follow-back (TLFB) method. Participants also completed calendars by self-monitoring the number of cigarettes smoked each day for two 4-week periods over the 26-week follow-up. The 3-and 20-week test-retest reliabilities of the smoking TLFB interview were high. Agreement between participants' daily monitored smoking calendars and their self-reports from the TLFB interview was also high, providing strong evidence for the validity of the TLFB method for smoking. A smoking TLFB interview provides the opportunity to assess patterns of change in smoking and cessation longitudinally over extended time frames.The assessment of smoking behavior is of critical importance to smoking cessation research. Recent directions in smoking research have emphasized that quitting smoking is a process taking place over a period of time rather than an absolute outcome. Understanding the natural history of smoking and the natural

The functional mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) Asn40Asp variant predicts short-term response to nicotine replacement therapy in a clinical trial

“…25 To assess smoking status, telephone interviews were conducted at the end of treatment (EOT, 8 weeks following the TQD) and at 6-month follow-up (6 months following the TQD) using a standard timeline follow-back method. 48 Participants who reported complete abstinence (not even a puff of a cigarette) for at least the 7 days prior to the assessment were asked to complete an in-person visit for biochemical verification of abstinence.…”

Interaction between variation in the D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) and the neuronal calcium sensor-1 (FREQ) genes in predicting response to nicotine replacement therapy for tobacco dependence

“…Self-report data on smoking status were obtained at EOT and 6-month followup, using a validated timeline follow-back method. 21 Participants who reported complete abstinence (not even a puff of a cigarette) for at least the 7 days prior to the assessment were asked to complete an in-person visit for biochemical verification of abstinence using exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) reading (cotinine verification was not used because the treatments contained nicotine).…”

Do daily interactive voice response reports of smoking behavior correspond with retrospective reports?

“…Specifically, baseline TLFB data were gathered for the 30 days prior to their first screening session and at all weekly appointments individuals were verbally asked to indicate the number of cigarettes they consumed each day for the preceding week. The TLFB has been shown to be a reliable and valid method of assessment of smoking behavior (Brown et al, 1998), and it has been shown to have good convergence with the biochemical markers CO and cotinine (Brandon, Copeland, & Saper, 1995).Smoking status was biochemically verified by measuring CO using a Vitalograph BreathCO monitor (Lenexa, KS), with readings of 10 ppm or greater coded as current smoking (SRNT Subcommittee on Biochemical Verification, 2002). This biomarker is adequate for the assessment of smoking as "any specimen in which the biomarker can be measured is suitable for determining smoking status" (SRNT Subcommittee on Biochemical Verification, 2002, p. 150).…”

“…The TLFB has also been evaluated as a measure of past illicit drug use and tobacco smoking, and it has been shown to have adequate reliability and validity with these substances as well (Brown et al, 1998;Fals-Stewart, O'Farrell, Freitas, McFarlin, & Rutigliano, 2000;Hersh, Mulgrew, Van Kirk, & Kranzler, 1999).…”