Assessment of Nicotine Dependence Using Fagerstrom Test among Patients with Leukoplakia and Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Tobacco consumption has an influence on the oral mucosa and causes oral malignancy in the due time. On assessing nicotine dependence, appropriate counselling can be given to prevent further progression of the habit. Aim of this study was to assess the nicotine dependence levels among patients with potentially malignant disorders such as leukoplakia and Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) using fagerstrom test. This study included 140 patients from October 2019 to January 2020 in a dental hospital. Variables such as age, gender, tobacco form and lesion were assessed. Descriptive and chi square statistics were performed. Out of 140 patients, higher prevalence with tobacco usage were among 41-50 years (40%), 94.29% were males and 5.71% were females, 16.43% had low dependency, 52.86% had medium dependency and 30.71% had high dependency. Association between age; nicotine dependency in patients with and without lesion p=0.000(p<0.05), statistically significant. Association between gender and patients with and without lesions p=0.151(p>0.05), statistically not significant. Within the limitations of the present study, males had higher prevalence of tobacco use among 41-50 years. Patients with potentially malignant disorders and smokers without lesion had medium dependence while smokeless tobacco users without lesion had a high dependence.