Readiness Visual Analog Scale: A Simple Way to Predict Post-Stroke Smoking Behavior.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to assess a relationship between readiness to quit and post-stroke smoking behavior. METHODS Eighty-six active smokers with first-ever ischemic stroke were recruited in a tertiary-care stroke unit. The question "Are you ready to quit smoking within the next month?" with yes/no responses and the 10-cm readiness visual analog scale (VAS) was administered during the anti-smoking intervention. Smoking status was verified at the 3- and 12-month follow-up. RESULTS The readiness VAS score at hospitalization was significantly lower in patients classified as smokers as compared to patients classified as non-smokers. The readiness score <5 cm was a significant predictor of smoking at the 3-month (OR, 7.3) and 12-month follow-up (OR, 4.9). CONCLUSIONS The present results suggest that the readiness VAS can be used as a simple and inexpensive instrument for early identification of patients who continue to smoke after stroke.