Stress and cigarette smoking in Korean men with diabetes

The purpose of the study was to investigate the level of stress and cigarette smoking behaviors in Korean men with diabetes and to exam the relationships among them. Data were collected using the questionnaire including background characteristics, modified Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI) and the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ). 37% of the participants were current smokers with a mean of 4.22 FTQ score. 22% among the current smokers had a nicotine dependency. 43.1% indicated they were considering quitting smoking within 6 months. The level of stress was not associated with the amount of smoking. However, the level of stress was associated with nicotine dependency. There were no significant differences between the smoking cessation stage and stress. In conclusion, the prevalence of smoking among Korean men with diabetes is high. The large proportion of smokers in the contemplation and preparation stages should be supported by the need for stage-matched interventions targeting this special group of smokers.