Comparing stage of change measures in adolescent smokers.

This study compared stage of change measures among adolescent smokers. Participants were 56 adolescents who had received smoking tickets. They filled out an assessment packet including readiness to change measures [i.e., algorithm, Crittenden's measure, University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA), and Ladder], smoking history, a 30-day calendar, Fagerstrom, self-efficacy measures, locus of control, and a problem screen. The Crittenden algorithm was correlated with the Ladder and URICA motivation scores as well as with decreased frequency/amount of smoking and past quit attempts. Ladder scores were correlated with less cigarettes smoked, self-efficacy, and fewer adolescent problems. Readiness to change was unrelated to nicotine dependence and locus of control. The classification of participants into stages by the Crittenden algorithm was associated with a significant MANOVA (Wilks' Lambda F=1.56, P<.025), with group differences on reported quit attempts, abstinence self-efficacy, and adolescent problems. The Crittenden measure and the URICA motivation score were sensitive to a MET intervention.