Canadian and English students' beliefs about waterpipe smoking
Author Information
Author(s): Jeremy Roskin, Paul Aveyard
Primary Institution: UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, University of Birmingham
Hypothesis
What are the beliefs of Canadian and English students regarding waterpipe smoking?
Conclusion
Students believe waterpipe smoking is less harmful than other forms of smoking due to a lack of public health information.
Supporting Evidence
- Waterpipe smoking is seen as a social activity that is more affordable than going out to bars.
- Students often believe that waterpipe smoking is less harmful because there are no public health warnings about it.
- Many students enjoy the fruit flavors of waterpipe tobacco, which they think makes it safer.
- Most respondents had friends who disapproved of waterpipe smoking but continued to smoke regardless.
- Students reported that the smoothness of waterpipe smoke led them to believe it was less harmful than cigarette smoke.
- Some students use waterpipe smoking as a way to quit cigarettes.
Takeaway
Students think smoking from a waterpipe is safer than cigarettes because it tastes good and doesn't smell bad.
Methodology
Interviews were conducted with waterpipe smokers using a semi-structured schedule and analyzed using constant comparative analysis.
Potential Biases
Participants may have been from a specific subculture of waterpipe smokers, affecting the generalizability of the findings.
Limitations
The study used snowball sampling, which may have led to a biased sample of waterpipe smokers.
Participant Demographics
{"total":12,"gender":{"male":10,"female":2},"ethnicity":{"white":5,"arab":6,"other":1},"age_group":{"18-25":11,">25":1},"SES":{"student":9,"employed":3}}
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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