Comparison of the effect of educational methods on students' knowledge, attitude and behavior about hookah smoking

Identifying the Determinants of Hookah Smoking Among the Youth; A Mixed-Methods Study

Hookahs have been rising in popularity in the United States (U.S.) especially among the youth yet not much research has been carried out to understand the various predictors of hookah use among youth. We have thus conducted a cross-sectional study with a mixed-methods triangulation design to identify the hookah use determinants at different levels of the Social Ecological Model among youth. Participants between the ages of 18-24 years were sampled purposively, between April to November 2023, following a snowballing technique from various communities in Virginia and California, United States. Data were collected via a survey, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups. The study had a total sample size of 20. We found that participants smoked for a median of 5 times in the past 30 days. The main determinants of hookah smoking included the limited knowledge of health effects and addiction, positive attitude, family and peer influence, use as a means to socially connect with others, culture, social acceptability, lack of education at school and work place, access to hookah bars and smoke shops, and lack of strict enforcement of laws to ban smoking of youth. Educational interventions should be implemented by public health authorities to target the youth, their social and communities to provide education on hookah harm and addictiveness and to restrict access to- and the production, distribution, marketing and sales of hookahs.

The role of intrapersonal and interpersonal factors in waterpipe cessation: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of waterpipe smoking among women in southern Iran is significantly higher than women in other regions of Iran. We aimed to explore the effect of several demographic factors, knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy and social norms on a successful cessation of waterpipe smoking in the marginalized women of Bandar Abbas city, in the south of Iran.

METHODS

This case-control study was conducted in 2022 among 731 women (246 subjects who successfully quit waterpipe smoking in the case group and 485 who smoked waterpipe in the control group). A cluster sampling method was used to collect the required data through face-to-face interviews and a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of demographic information, behavioral information about waterpipe smoking and knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy and social norms. The data were analyzed in STATA 14 using univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

RESULTS

The mean and standard deviation of age was 39.24 ± 11.93 and 37.18 ± 13.57 in the control and case groups, respectively. With an increase of one score in social norm (OR: 1.046), the odds of cessation were increased for 4%. With an increase of one score in self-efficacy (OR: 1.152), the odds of cessation were increased for 15%. With an increase of one score in knowledge (OR: 1.064), the odds of cessation were increased for 6%. With an increase of one score in attitude (OR: 1.215) the odds of cessation were increased for 21%.

CONCLUSION

The present findings revealed personal and interpersonal influential factors in successful waterpipe cessation. Women's knowledge can be increased and their attitude can be changed. Important people in women's lives can be influenced to, consequently, affect women positively and improve their self-esteem.

The role of mass media communication in public health: The impact of Islamic Republic of Iran broadcasting health channel on health literacy and health behaviors

Background: By informing and educating, the Media play a main role in increasing the health literacy of the community. Broadcasting health channels (BHCs) are established to improve health literacy and public health worldwide. This study was aimed to evaluate the role of Islamic Republic of Iran the broadcasting health channel (IRIB HC) on public health.

Methods: A cross-sectional, comparative study was performed on 500 participants throughout 6 urban areas in Tehran, the capital of Iran in 2019. About 250 of the samples were included in viewing the health channel group. A standard questionnaire was used to measure the levels of public health in the 2 groups. Data were analyzed and compared using SPSS software version 25.

Results: According to the results, health literacy was higher in the group that used the health channel rather than the other group. Also, with regard to physical and psychological health levels, a significant difference was observed between audiences and nonaudiences (p= 0.013, p= 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: The IRIB HC has positive effects on increasing the level of health literacy, Physical and psychological health, and consequently improving public health. Therefore, these channels have a great role in the implementation of health polices to improve health status.

Water Pipe Smoking Reduction in the Male Adolescent Students: An Educational Intervention Using Multi-Theory Model

BACKGROUND

Water pipe smoking (WPS) has increased and is becoming a major leisure pastime among young people in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine of efficacy of an educational intervention based on Multi-Theory Model (MTM) to reduce WPS in the male adolescent students in Iran.

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Overall, 94 male adolescent students (grades 10, 11) smoked water pipe (WP) in the past month (current WP smokers) were selected, allocated randomly in two groups (47 students in intervention group and 47 students in control group), in two different schools in 2018 in Hamadan City, western Iran. Data were collected utilizing a valid and reliable questionnaire based on MTM constructs and demographic variables. Educational intervention was designed in five 45-min sessions. Two groups were followed-up three-months after completion of intervention. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software through Chi-square test, independent-sample t-test, paired-samples t-test, and Friedman test.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between the mean score of participatory dialogue, behavioral confidence, emotional transformation and practice for change in the intervention group compared with the control group after the intervention (P<0.001). In addition, significant reductions in the frequency of WPS (from 14.9% to 4.3%) were observed in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The developed educational intervention based on MTM constructs was efficacious and can be replicated for effectiveness studies to reduce WPS in the male adolescent students in Iran.