Association between health literacy and the time to first cigarette among daily smokers in Zhejiang Province, China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nicotine dependence significantly impedes smoking cessation efforts, yet limited research has explored its relationship with health literacy in the Chinese context. This study aimed to investigate the association between health literacy and nicotine dependence among daily smokers in Zhejiang Province, China, with particular focus on potential threshold effects.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 3,235 daily smokers (99.23% male) from the 2022 Chinese Health Literacy Survey in Zhejiang Province. Health literacy was assessed using a validated Chinese health literacy scale (0-66 points), while nicotine dependence was measured by time to first cigarette (TTFC ≤ 30 min indicating high dependence). Multivariable logistic regression and threshold effe

SUBMITTER: Hu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631202 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature