Smoking (BCS, PCS1, PCS2, PMBC*, PCS3*)

Title

History and Current Status of Smoking (18-item [BCS], 15-item [PMBC, PCS3], and 10-item [PCS1, PCS2])

Copyright Information

Not copyrighted scales

Primary Reference

Cohen, S., Tyrrell, D. A. J., Russell, M. A. H., Jarvis, M. J., & Smith, A. P. (1993). Smoking, alcohol consumption, and susceptibility to the common cold. American Journal of Public Health, 83, 1277-1283.

Purpose

To assess the status and rate of current and past smoking.

Type of Measure

Established.

Description

Participants respond to questions about current and past status and rate of smoking and the type of smoking product being used.

Number of Items

18 (BCS); 10 (PCS1, PCS2); 15 (PMBC, PCS3)

Scoring/Variables

• Smoking Status: Nonsmoker (never smoked), smoker, former smoker

               °    BCS: Status determined based on answers to following questions:
                             1)  Do you currently smoke cigarettes?
                             2)  Have you smoked in the past?

               °    PCS1, PCS2, PMBC, PCS3: Status determined based on answers to following questions:
                             1)  Do you currently smoke cigarettes, cigars, or a pipe ON A DAILY BASIS?
                             2)  Did you EVER smoke cigarettes, cigars, or a pipe on a daily basis?

        Nonsmokers answer no to questions 1 and 2.
        Smokers answer yes to question 1.
        Former smokers answer no to question 1 and yes to question 2.

Current Smoking

• Average number of cigarettes, cigars, or bowls of tobacco smoked per day

Past Smoking

• Former average number of cigarettes cigars, or bowls of tobacco smoker per day (when participant was smoking the heaviest).

Additional References

Vartiainen, E., Seppala, T., Lillsunde, P., & Puska, P.  (2002).  Validation of self-reported smoking by serum cotinine measurement in a community-based study.  Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 56, 167-170.

* See also Daily Interview Health Behaviors