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Article
Individual-level determinants of waterpipe smoking demand in four Eastern-Mediterranean countries
Health Promotion International
  • Ramzi G. Salloum, University of Florida
  • Rima Nakkash, American University of Beirut
  • Niveen M.E. Abu-Rmeileh, Birzeit University
  • Randah R. Hamadeh, Arabian Gulf University
  • Muhammad W. Darawad, The University of Jordan
  • Khalid A. Kheirallah, Jordan University of Science and Technology
  • Yahya Al-Farsi, Sultan Qaboos University College of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Afzalhussein Yusufali, Dubai Health Authority
  • Justin Thomas, Zayed University
  • Aya Mostafa, Ain Shams University, Faculty of Medicine
  • Mohamed Salama, Mansoura University
  • Lama El Kadi, American University of Beirut
  • Sukaina Alzyoud, Hashemite University
  • Nihaya Al-Sheyab, Jordan University of Science and Technology
  • James F. Thrasher, University of South Carolina
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2019
Abstract

© 2018 The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. The prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is at alarmingly high levels, especially among young people. The objective of this research was to evaluate the preferences of young adult waterpipe smokers with respect to potential individual-level determinants of waterpipe smoking using discrete choice experiment methodology. Participants were young adult university students (18-29 years) who were ever waterpipe smokers, recruited from universities across four Eastern Mediterranean countries: Jordan, Oman, Palestine and the United Arab Emirates. The Internet-based discrete choice experiment, with 6 × 3 × 2 block design, evaluated preferences for choices of waterpipe smoking sessions, presented on hypothetical waterpipe café menus. Participants evaluated nine choice sets, each with five fruit-flavored options, a tobacco flavored option (non-flavored), and an opt-out option. Choices also varied based on nicotine content (0.0% vs. 0.05% vs. 0.5%) and price (low vs. high). Participants were randomized to receive menus with either a pictorial + text health-warning message or no message (between-subjects attribute). Multinomial logit regression models evaluated the influence of these attributes on waterpipe smoking choices. Across all four samples (n = 1859), participants preferred fruit-flavored varieties to tobacco flavor, lower nicotine content and lower prices. Exposure to the health warning did not significantly predict likelihood to opt-out. Flavor accounted for 81.4% of waterpipe smoking decisions. Limiting the use of fruit flavors in waterpipe tobacco, in addition to accurate nicotine content labeling and higher pricing may be effective at curbing the demand for waterpipe smoking among young adults.

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Disciplines
Keywords
  • discrete choice experiment,
  • hookah,
  • shisha,
  • waterpipe
Scopus ID
85068531491
Indexed in Scopus
Yes
Open Access
No
https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/day084
Citation Information
Ramzi G. Salloum, Rima Nakkash, Niveen M.E. Abu-Rmeileh, Randah R. Hamadeh, et al.. "Individual-level determinants of waterpipe smoking demand in four Eastern-Mediterranean countries" Health Promotion International Vol. 34 Iss. 6 (2019) p. 1157 - 1166 ISSN: <a href="https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/issn/0957-4824" target="_blank">0957-4824</a>
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/justin-thomas28211/66/