261668 Testing the impact of a school-based waterpipe use prevention program in Lebanon: Results of an RCT in Lebanon

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Rima Nakkash, DrPH , Health Promotion and Community Health Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Ziyad Mahfoud, PhD , Qatar Foundation - Education City, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar
Pascale Haddad, MS , Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept of Epidemiology and Population Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Dima Bteddini, MS , Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Lina Jbara, MPH , Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Rima Afifi, PHD , Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept of Health Promotion and Community Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Tobacco use is a prevalent health risk behavior among youth in the Arab world. More youth chose to smoke waterpipe than cigarettes in Lebanon. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) of 2005 reported prevalence of waterpipe use among 7th-9th grades in Lebanon at 64.1% for males and 54.7% for females. Waterpipe use is not a safe alternative to cigarettes, and evidence suggests potential for health effects of similar magnitude. The health consequences of waterpipe use can be diminished through primary or secondary prevention programs. To date, and despite the increasing prevalence of waterpipe use among youth, and its documented health effects, no intervention to delay or prevent initiation has been evaluated. Methods: An intervention to prevent waterpipe use is being implemented with 6th and 7th graders in Lebanon during the 2011-2012 academic year. Forty schools have been randomly assigned to either intervention or control conditions. The intervention schools receive ten sessions based on theoretical constructs and experience of effective cigarette intervention programs. Behavioral, attitudinal, and knowledge-related outcomes are measured through a pretest (already administered) and a posttest to be administered in May-June 2012. In addition, a thorough process evaluation is being implemented. Results: Results of the process and impact evaluation will be shared. Conclusions: To date, there has been no evaluation of waterpipe intervention programs in schools. This project will inform the scientific literature as well as practice and policy on interventions for waterpipe use among youth, at a time where it is increasing in our cultural context, and globally.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Describe the health consequences of waterpipe tobacco smoking Identify the components of the waterpipe intervention program implemented in schools Discuss the methods used to evaluate the process and impact of the intervention Explain the impact of the intervention Identify implications of the results on practice, research, and policy

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a co-principal investigator on this grant and have been engaged in tobacco control research for the last decade.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

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