A Cross Sectional Study on Knowledge, Beliefs and Psychosocial Predictors of Shisha Smoking among University Students in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Knowledge, practices and beliefs of students regarding health effects of shisha use in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: A cross‑sectional study

Background

The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. Shisha use has recently been gaining increased popularity in many developed and developing countries.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of shisha use among students in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and associated knowledge, smoking practices and beliefs about health effects.

Methods

A total of 443 students were selected for this cross-sectional study, using a stratified sampling method. Data on shisha use, knowledge about shisha, shisha smoking practices, and factors associated with use of shisha were collected via a questionnaire. The association between the independent variables and shisha use was assessed using a χ² test (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine variables that were independently associated with shisha smoking.

Results

Of the 421 respondents, 162 (38.5%) indicated that they had smoked shisha; 14.0% were regular smokers. We found that 183 students (43.5%) had poor knowledge about the health effects of shisha. The main reasons for shisha smoking were being in the company of friends who were users (57.4%), the pleasant flavour and fragrance of shisha (25.9%), and fashion (22.2%). Ninety-nine shisha smokers (61.1%) also consumed alcohol. Factors associated with shisha smoking included age <20 years (p<0.001), gender (p=0.034), and educational level of the respondent's father (p=0.0001) and mother (p=0.0004).

Conclusion

We found a relatively high prevalence of shisha smoking among the students, and that 43.5% of them had poor knowledge about its effects on health. Developing surveillance, intervention and regulatory/policy frameworks specific to shisha has become a public health priority.

Study synopsis

What the study adds. The study provides additional data from resource-poor settings such as Burkia Faso, where there is an overall high prevalence of Sisha smoking, and also among students who are poorly informed about the health effects of smoking. Implications of the findings. The data informs advocacy and intervention strategies to combat smoking and decrease overall tobacco use in an African setting.

Prevalence of smoking (cigarette and waterpipe) and its association with obesity/overweight in UAE and Palestine

Aim

This study aimed to assess the prevalence rate of smoking behavior (cigarette and waterpipe) and its association with obesity/ overweight among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Palestine.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a convenient sample of 10 largest universities in the West Bank- Palestine and Dubai- UAE. In total, 3800 students were randomly selected from the universities, with an 87.6% response rate. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The key measures were: waterpipe smoking, weight, height, cigarette smoking, dieting to reduce weight, and perception and knowledge related to tobacco waterpipe smoking (TWP). Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated using the WHO cutoffs.

Results

The analysis included 3,327 students (54% from the West Bank and 46% from Dubai). About 16% of students in Dubai and 18% of students in the West Bank smoke cigarettes. Quarter (26%) of the students in Dubai and 32% of the students in West Bank smoke water pipes. 17% of students in Dubai and 18% of students in the West Bank reported that they smoke waterpipes to reduce their weight. Waterpipe smoking was found to have a significant positive association with obesity/overweight (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Smoking is very common among university students. Waterpipe smoking was associated with obesity. More research is still needed in this field to better understand the relationship between cigarette smoking and obesity.

Higher Dietary Inflammatory Index Scores Are Associated With Stress and Anxiety in Dormitory-Residing Female University Students in the United Arab Emirates

Dormitory-residing university students are at-risk of mental health problems related to unhealthy diets. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between dietary inflammatory potential and mental health of dormitory-residing female university students. This cross-sectional study was comprised of 260 undergraduate females residing in dormitories of the largest university in United Arab Emirates during Spring 2019. The Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DIITM) scores calculated from 37 food parameters were derived from two 24-h dietary recalls. The logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for the E-DII score in relation to depression, anxiety, and stress. The E-DII scores (mean = 2.98 ± 1.17) were categorized into: tertile 1 (−1.96–2.62), tertile 2 (2.63–3.52), and tertile 3 (3.53–5.60), representing less to more proinflammatory diets. Students in the E-DII tertile 3 had significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores. The logistic regression analysis showed that each point increase in the E-DII score was associated with symptoms of stress (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.12–1.77; p = 0.003) and anxiety (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.07–1.69; p = 0.01). Relative to students in the E-DII tertile 1, those students in the E-DII tertile 3 were more likely to be at higher risk of stress and anxiety ORE−DIItertile3vs1 = 2.89 (1.44–5.79) and 2.88 (1.49–5.56), respectively. Overall, stress and anxiety were associated with proinflammatory diets in dormitory-residing female university students, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to increase the anti-inflammatory capacity of diet and improve mental wellbeing in students on university campuses.

Waterpipe smoking, internet addiction and depression: A public health problem trio?

BACKGROUND

Waterpipe smoking and Internet addiction may result in a new public health problem globally. This study aimed to explore waterpipe use among a large group of adolescents and its association with Internet use, mental health, primarily depression and their demographic characteristics.

METHODS

Using a stratified random sampling method, 2054 tertiary school students aged 14-18 years were recruited in 2019. Demographical information and use of tobacco products (eg, waterpipe) were explored and compared with severity of Internet addiction and mental status.

RESULTS

A total of 288 (14.0%) adolescents had ever used waterpipe. Multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that being male (OR = 2.55 and 95% CI = 1.98-3.30; P = .0001), being depressed (OR = 1.62 and 95% CI = 1.24-2.11) and excessive Internet use (OR = 1.94 and 95% CI = 1.50-2.52; P = .0001) were significantly associated with waterpipe use. Family income and parents' educational status showed no relationship with waterpipe smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that adolescents who are depressed and who use the Internet excessively are at an increased risk for waterpipe use, independent of income and parenteral education.

Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Hospitalized Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients: Case Series Study From the First COVID-19 Center in the UAE

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 is raising with a second wave threatening many countries. Therefore, it is important to understand COVID-19 characteristics across different countries.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study of 525 hospitalized symptomatic COVID-19 patients, from the central federal hospital in Dubai-UAE during period of March to August 2020.

RESULTS

UAE's COVID-19 patients were relatively young; mean (SD) of the age 49(15) years, 130 (25%) were older than 60 and 4 (<1%) were younger than 18 years old. Majority were male(47; 78%). The mean (SD) BMI was 29 (6) kg/m². While the source of contracting COVID-19 was not known in 369 (70%) of patients, 29 (6%) reported travel to overseas-country and 127 (24%) reported contact with another COVID-19 case/s. At least one comorbidity was present in 284 (54%) of patients and 241 (46%) had none. The most common comorbidities were diabetes (177; 34%) and hypertension (166; 32%). The mean (SD) of symptoms duration was 6 (3) days. The most common symptoms at hospitalization were fever (340; 65%), cough (296; 56%), and shortness of breath (SOB) (243; 46%). Most of the laboratory values were within normal range, but (184; 35%) of patients had lymphopenia, 43 (8%) had neutrophilia, and 116 (22%) had prolong international normalized ratio (INR), and 317 (60%) had high D-dimer. Chest x ray findings of consolidation was present in 334 (64%) of patients and CT scan ground glass appearance was present in 354 (68%). Acute cardiac injury occurred in 124 (24%), acute kidney injury in 111 (21%), liver injury in 101 (19%), ARDS in 155 (30%), acidosis in 118 (22%), and septic shock in 93 (18%). Consequently, 150 (29%) required ICU admission with 103 (20%) needed mechanical ventilation.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated the special profile of COVID-19 in UAE. Patients were young with diabetes and/or hypertension and associated with severe infection as shown by various clinical and laboratory data necessitating ICU admission.

Prevalence, Predictors, and Characteristics of Waterpipe Smoking Among Jazan University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Waterpipe smoking (WPS), also called shisha, has considerable short and long-term effects on human health. WPS has become increasingly popular among the youth in Jazan society. Hence, this study is aimed to assess the prevalence, predictors, and characteristics (knowledge and attitude) of WPS among male and female students at Jazan University.

Methods and materials

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 students. Data were collected using a self-administered validated questionnaire. The prevalence and predictors of WPS and the association between important socio-demographic factors (sex, type of college, parents smoking, home mate smoking and close friend smoking) were studied.

Results

The prevalence of WPS among students was high, approximately 34.0%. The prevalence rate was significantly higher in males (42.5%, n = 74) than in females (27.0%, n = 57) (p = 0.001). The main predictors of WPS were: being male (OR = 1.99, 95% CI [1.30, 3.06], p = 0.001), believing that shisha smoking is less harmful & addictive than cigarettes (OR = 3.84, 95% CI [1.88, 7.83], p < 0.001 and 3.80, 95% CI [2.0, 7.11], p < 0.001, respectively), and having a close friend who smokes (OR = 6.85, 95% CI [3.84, 12.22], p < 0.001).

Conclusions

WPS prevalence among Jazan University students was high, and the most influential factors were being male, having smoker housemates and friends, and having incorrect thoughts and beliefs.

Prevalence of alexithymia and associated factors among medical students at King Abdulaziz University: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Medical students are at higher risk of developing alexithymia due to the nature of their studies.

OBJECTIVES

Determine the prevalence of alexithymia and potential risk factors among medical students in Saudi Arabia.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional analytic study.

SETTINGS

University medical school.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An institutional cross-sectional survey of medical students was conducted using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to assess the prevalence of alexithymia and potentially associated factors (gender, parental marital status, grade point average, status of accommodations, smoking status, year of study, childhood abuse, a history of mental illness, and physical activity).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Gender, parental marital status, grade point average, status of accommodations, smoking status, year of study, childhood abuse, a history of mental illness, and physical activity.

SAMPLE SIZE

347.

RESULTS

The prevalence of alexithymia among medical students was 49% (95% confidence interval [43.8-54.2]). A binary logistic regression model showed significant associations between alexithymia and academic year of study (lower risk of alexithymia in the clerkship (5th, 6th years); odds ratio [OR]: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.26-0.72), smoking (OR: 3.52, 95% CI: 1.60-3.34), grade point average (lowest; OR: 10.44, 95% CI: 4.24-25.77), history of childhood abuse (OR: 2, 95% CI: 1.20-8.77), and history of psychiatric illness (OR: 14.40, 95% CI: 4.76-21.06).

CONCLUSION

Almost half of the medical students suffer from alexithymia. Increasing the awareness about alexithymia among students and directing them where to seek help would facilitate the management of these problems.

LIMITATIONS

Limited only to medical students from the second year to the sixth year in a single medical college, which affects generalizability. The cross-sectional design might have also limited generalizability.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.