236997 Risk Perceptions of Hookah Smoking

Monday, October 31, 2011: 10:50 AM

Hikmet J. Jamil, MD, PhD, FFOMI , Department of Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational & Environmental Health, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Raphael Putrus, BMS Student , Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Wayne State University, 3939 Woodward Ave. 3rd. Floor, MI
Judith Arnetz, PhD, MPH , Department of Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational & Environmental Health, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Bengt Arnetz, MD, PhD, MPH, MscEp , Department of Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational & Environmental Health, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Background: The prevalence of hookah (waterpipe) smoking is on the increase among adolescents and adults and appears to be a replacement for regular cigarette smoking. A major concern is that tobacco prevention policies have focused on traditional tobacco products, largely letting hookah smoking fly under the radar. This study focused on risk perceptions of hookah smoking to determine whether hookah smokers viewed hookah as less dangerous than regular cigarette smoking.

Methods: A validated survey was distributed to a random sample of the community in paper format and also electronically. A total of 880 surveys were completed. Respondents represented 156 different ZIP codes in Michigan.

Results: Approximately 19% of respondents were current hookah smokers. 29.6% of hookah smokers were Arab-Americans versus 3.6% of African Americans. Logistic regression revealed that hookah smoking was more likely among those who were Arab-Americans (OR=12.5), Chaldeans (OR=9.2), younger (OR=2.1), male (OR=2.5), and with higher income (OR=1.8). Hookah smokers were more likely than non hookah-smokers to rate hookah as less dangerous than cigarette smoking (OR=2.3). Compared to non-hookah smokers, hookah smokers were more likely to perceive second hand hookah smoke as less dangerous (OR=1.9). Hookah smokers also considered hookah smoking to present less of a health risk than cigars, chewing tobacco, and cigarettes with either filters and/or menthol.

Conclusion: Hookah smokers have a distorted risk perception of hookah and believe it to be safer than a range of other tobacco products. There is a need for targeted anti-hookah consumer information as well as policies.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Administration, management, leadership
Advocacy for health and health education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Define the perception of health risk among hookah smokers mainstream communities in Michigan Describe the importance of hookah smoke to the community and policy makers.

Keywords: Community Education, Tobacco Legislation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conduct clinical research in the area of my presentation
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Wayne State University Tobacco Area Employment (includes retainer)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.