International Journal of Health Sciences and Research Vol.13; Issue: 6; June 2023 Website: www.ijhsr.org Original Research Article ISSN: 2249-9571 International Journal of Health Sciences and Research (www.ijhsr.org) 173 Volume 13; Issue: 6; June 2023 Assessment of Nicotine Dependence and Its Potential Predictors Among a Cohort of Current Egyptian Cigarette Smokers - A Preparatory Phase of a Workplace Anti-Smoking Initiative: Part I Asmaa Mahmoud Mohammed 1 , Hend Rashad 1 , Adel Hashish 2 1 Departments of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 2 Researches of Children with Special Needs, National Research Centre, Doki, Egypt Corresponding Author: Asmaa Mahmoud Mohammed (M.D.) DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230630 Received: 02.05.2023 / Revised: 26.05.2023 / Accepted: 31.05.2023 ABSTRACT Aim: Combating smoking in workplaces is a cornerstone to fight smoking in the whole community. However, nicotine dependence (ND) is a key barrier to successful smoking cessation. The study assessed the nicotine dependence status and its potential predictors among a cohort of current Egyptian cigarette smokers. Subjects and methods: Cross- sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of cigarette- smoking workers. ND status was assessed using the standard 6-items of FTND, Heaviness of the smoking index, and smoking parameters. The potential predictors for nicotine dependence have been studied including personal and smoking characteristics, the urinary cotinine creatinine ratio, knowledge, and smoking perception. Results: A total of 113 current male cigarette smokers were included randomly in the survey. High nicotine-dependent smokers represented 80.5% of the smokers, high nicotine dependence was significantly more prevalent in low-educated than the highly educated (p<0.0001). The linear regression analysis model revealed a significant negative linear correlation between the age of starting smoking of the participants and their FTND score and a significant positive correlation with Cigarette Consumption/day, smoking rate, and urinary cotinine creatinine ratio (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Nicotine dependence was highly prevalent among smokers, so combined approaches should be considered in the treatment strategy. The age of starting regular smoking, number of cigarette consumption/day, smoking rate, and urinary cotinine creatinine concentration ratio were significantly good predictors for nicotine dependence and increase vulnerability for its development. Combating starting smoking before 21 years old is a key to prevent nicotine dependence. The treatment priority should focus on smokers willing to change and want to be treated. The laws which prohibit smoking in workplaces must be activated. Keywords: Smoking, Nicotine-dependence, Workplaces, Combating smoking INTRODUCTION Tobacco smoking is a global epidemic with 1.1 billion smokers (21% of the world’s population) and more than 8 million annual deaths all over the world of which 80% are in low and middle-income countries. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases, and more than 20 different types of cancers [1]. Approximately, half of all children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke, and 65. 000 children in the world die each year due to illnesses related to second-hand smoke. Exposure of pregnant women to tobacco