Policy-relevant context of waterpipe tobacco smoking among university students in six countries across the Eastern Mediterranean region: A qualitative study
Document Type
Article
Source of Publication
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Publication Date
9-1-2017
Abstract
Background: Waterpipe tobacco smoking rates in the Eastern Mediterranean region are some of the highest worldwide, especially among young people. This study aimed to improve our knowledge of the policy-relevant context of waterpipe smoking among six countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates. Participants were young adult university students (18-29 years) from both genders who had ever smoked the waterpipe, recruited from universities participating in this study. Directed content analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. Results: A total of 53 in-depth interviews were conducted in Arabic in 2016. Findings were organized around 5 themes: waterpipe product characteristics; patterns of waterpipe smoking; the waterpipe café setting; perceived health consequences; and health warning labels. Waterpipe smoking was commonly perceived as a safe alternative to cigarettes. Waterpipe tobacco was reported to be widely accessible and affordable to young participants. There is a lack of knowledge among waterpipe smokers about the associated health effects. Warning labels are effective at communicating health risks associated with waterpipe smoking. Conclusions: Regulatory frameworks for waterpipe tobacco smoking should be developed and enforced, including waterpipe-specific health warning labels that elucidate the harmful effects of waterpipe smoking.
DOI Link
ISSN
Publisher
Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention
Volume
18
Issue
9
First Page
2533
Last Page
2540
Disciplines
Life Sciences
Keywords
Eastern Mediterranean, Hookah, Policy, Qualitative, Shisha, Waterpipe
Scopus ID
Recommended Citation
Salloum, Ramzi G.; Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen; Hamadeh, Randah; Thomas, Justin; Mostafa, Aya; Yusufali, Afzalhussein; Kheirallah, Khalid A.; Macauda, Mark M.; Theis, Ryan P.; Kadi, Lama El; Johnson, Evan J.; Darawad, Muhammad W.; and Nakkash, Rima, "Policy-relevant context of waterpipe tobacco smoking among university students in six countries across the Eastern Mediterranean region: A qualitative study" (2017). All Works. 2706.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/2706
Indexed in Scopus
yes
Open Access
no