European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Socioeconomic status (SES) and literacy level is a major determinant of tobacco use but little is known whether SES affects nicotine dependency or not. Socioeconomic status (SES) is strongly related to smoking behaviour. The association is so strong that smoking is regarded as a marker for deprivation and one can identify disadvantaged groups by simply observing their smoking prevalence. The main objective is to examine the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on nicotine dependence. A retrospective study was conducted using case records of patients attending private dental college from July 2019- March 2020 . A total of 201 case sheets of patients who had the habit of tobacco use with recorded nicotine dependence score and their income and educational status were retrieved. The study included two measures of SES - education and income using the Modified Kuppuswamy scale(revised version february 2019). Nicotine dependencies are assessed using Fagerstrom nicotine dependence scale. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test was used to analyze the data. More prevalence of literate participants(78.6%) and middle income smokers(<25000) (43.78%) are more prevalent among the study population . No statistically significant association was found between education and nicotine dependence scale(p = 0.750); income and nicotine dependence ( p=0.432) . Chi-square tests were used for association and descriptive statistics were used. Nicotine dependency shows insignificant variations across different indicators of SES- income and education among patients attending private dental college in Chennai.