Description

The Smoking Decisional Balance – Short Form (SDB-SF-20) is a psychometric instrument designed to assess the perceived advantages and disadvantages associated with smoking behaviour. The scale is based on the concept of decisional balance, examining how individuals evaluate the positive and negative consequences of smoking when deciding whether to continue or quit.

The short version was developed to provide a more practical and less time-consuming assessment compared with the original questionnaire, while maintaining the ability to evaluate smokers’ motivational orientation toward cessation.

Objective

The main objective of the SDB-SF-20 is to estimate the perceived benefits and disadvantages of smoking in order to predict whether individuals are more likely to maintain smoking behaviour or move toward cessation.

The scale evaluates the extent to which individuals focus on the positive aspects of smoking or, alternatively, recognize the negative consequences that may encourage quitting.

Structure and Content

The SDB-SF-20 assesses two main dimensions:

Perceived Benefits of Smoking: This dimension evaluates the positive aspects individuals associate with smoking, such as perceived satisfaction, relief, or other personal benefits.

Perceived Costs of Smoking: This dimension examines negative consequences and perceived burdens associated with smoking behaviour.

The balance between these two dimensions reflects the individual’s decision-making tendency regarding smoking continuation or cessation.

Scoring Method

The short form includes six responses, with three items referring to positive aspects of smoking and three items referring to negative aspects. Responses are rated using a five-point Likert scale, where:

1 = Smoking has no significant importance

and

5 = Smoking has a very high importance.

The total score is calculated separately for the perceived benefits and disadvantages of smoking. The difference between the two scores indicates the individual’s overall attitude and the strength of their tendency toward continuing smoking or considering cessation.

Higher positive scores indicate a stronger tendency to perceive smoking benefits and maintain smoking behaviour.

Data Analysis and Use

The SDB-SF-20 can be analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and comparative methods to examine smokers’ motivational profiles.

The scale is particularly useful in smoking cessation research and behavioural interventions based on motivational change models. It can help identify cognitive factors influencing smoking decisions and support the development of personalized cessation strategies.

Validity and Reliability

The internal consistency of the scale has been evaluated through Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Reported values indicate a reliability coefficient of α = 0.70 for positive smoking-related items, α = 0.58 for negative items, and α = 0.54 for the total scale.

References

Bakan, A. B., & Erci, B. (2018). Comparison of the effect of trainings based on the transtheoretical model and the health belief model on nurses’ smoking cessation. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 11(1), 213–224.

Hazen, D. A., Mannino, D. M., & Clayton, R. (2008). Gender specific differences in the pros and cons of smoking among current smokers in Eastern Kentucky: Implications for future smoking cessation interventions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 5(4), 230–242.

Kagabo, R., Gordon, A. J., & Okuyemi, K. (2020). Smoking cessation in inpatient psychiatry treatment facilities: A review. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 11, 100255.

Velicer, W. F., DiClemente, C. C., Prochaska, J. O., & Brandenburg, N. (1985). Decisional balance measure for assessing and predicting smoking status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48(5), 1279.