Recorded presentation

Hikmet J. Jamil, MD, PhD, FFOMI, Wayne State University Department of Family Medicine /, ACCESS Community Health & Research Center, 6450 Maple Rd, Dearborn, MI 48126, 313 216-2227, hjamil@med.wayne.edu, Virginia Hill Rice, PhD, RN, Wayne State University, College of Nursing, 336 Cohn Building, Detroit, MI 48201, Adnan Hammad, PhD, Community Health & Research Center, ACCESS, 6450 Maple Rd, Dearborn, MI 48126, Laith H. Jamil, MD, Beaumont Hospital, Institute of Research, 3601 W. 13 Mile, Royal Oak, MI 48073, and Harvey Pass, MD, Waye State University, Harper Hospital, Harper Hospital, Detroit, MI 48201.

Objective: This research evaluated tobacco use in 948 Arab Americans.

Design/Participants: A field survey was conducted with a sample of 6164 Arab American. Of those screened, 28% were smokers; 874 current and 74 former smokers.

Results: The majority were male (80%); married (77%); born in the Middle East (97%); had not finished high school (54%) and carried no health insurance (54%). Countries of origin for the sample were Lebanon (34%), Iraq (28%) & Yemen (25%). More men than women began smoking before the age of 15 and smoke more cigarettes per day; the majority of the women started smoking after the age of 21. Significant predictors for current smoking were (a) living in the US more than five years, (a) no health insurance, and (c) tobacco use before the age of 15; odds ratios were 2.94, 2.38, and 31.36, respectively. Having a father that smoked and being less well educated were predictors also. Social and psychological factors were instrumental in both the initiation and maintenance of tobacco use; 91% wanted to quit and 94% wanted help.

Conclusion: Significant differences were found between current Vs former smokers and men Vs women. Current smokers began smoking before age15. Father smoking and less than a high school education was predictors of current tobacco use.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Understanding the tobacco behavior among some immigrant populations.
• 2. Better understanding of the culture factors and demographic variables among some immigrant population
• 3. Encourage family physicians and health educators for tobacco cessation program in relation to the cultural characters.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation