Introduction Since their introduction to the US market in 2007, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have posed considerable challenges to both public health authorities and government regulators, especially given the debate – in both the scientific world and the community at large – regarding the potential advantages (e.g. helping individuals quit smoking) and disadvantages (e.g. renormalizing...

AbstractBackground: Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is an ancient type of smoking that has become a globalphenomenon. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of waterpipe smoking and its relation tosocio-demographic characteristics in Herat University students in western Afghanistan.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a structured self-administered questionnaire containing 53 items in3 ...

Background: Waterpipe smoking is a growing public health threat worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess waterpipe smoking prevalence and its associated factors among Iranian adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kerman, Iran, recruiting 1090 adult participants using multistage sampling in 2016. A self-reported researcher-designed questionnaire was used. The socio-de...

BACKGROUND There is a need for a comprehensive and critical review of the literature to inform scientific debates about the public health effects of waterpipe smoking. The objective of this study was therefore to systematically review the medical literature for the effects of waterpipe tobacco smoking on health outcomes. METHODS We conducted a systematic review using the Cochrane Collaboratio...

Waterpipe (also called hookah, shisha, or narghile) smoking is a common form of tobacco use in the Middle East. Its use is becoming more prevalent in Western societies, especially among young adults as an alternative form of tobacco use to traditional cigarettes. While the risk to cigarette smoking is well documented, the risk to waterpipe smoking is not well defined with limited information on...

OBJECTIVE To gain an understanding of the psychosocial and environmental influences on waterpipe smoking among college students. Participants were 49 university students who were regular waterpipe smokers. METHODS A series of in-depth, in-person, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted. RESULTS It was a common belief that wa- ter in the waterpipe absorbed all the "impurities" ...

BACKGROUND There is a clear shift in smoking habits among the Middle Eastern population with a recent and alarming increase in the prevalence of waterpipe (shisha) smoking. This phenomenon has not yet been studied sufficiently across the physician population. Therefore, we set out to establish the smoking status of primary healthcare physicians in the kingdom of Bahrain. METHODS A self-admini...

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the use of flavored e-cigarettes varies between youth (12-17 years old), young adults (18-29 years old), and older adults (30 + years old). Cross-sectional surveys of school-going youth (n = 3907) and young adult college students (n = 5482) in Texas, and young adults and older adults (n = 6051) nationwide were administered in 2014-2015. Proportion...

BACKGROUND The prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) in the Middle East region and worldwide is increasing. There is evidence to indicate both short term and long term health effects of WTS, resulting in the issuance of an advisory note by the World Health Organization. METHODS This research aimed at gaining an in-depth understanding of the factors contributing to the rise in WTS in L...