Farahnaz Islam1, Ramzi G Salloum2, Rima Nakkash3, Wasim Maziak4,5, James F Thrasher6. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. 2. Department of Health Outcomes and Policy, and Institute for Child Health Policy, University of Florida College of Medicine, PO Box 100177, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0177, USA. rsalloum@ufl.edu. 3. Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. 4. Department of Epidemiology, Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA. 5. Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, Aleppo, Syria. 6. Department of Health, Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Youth have the misperception that waterpipe smoking is less harmful than cigarettes despite the evidence that it is associated with nicotine dependence and many of the diseases caused by cigarettes. There is a pressing need to identify effective health warnings that increase awareness about the harmful effects of waterpipe smoking. Our objective was to test the effectiveness of various health warning messages and their location on waterpipe devices. METHODS: Adult waterpipe smokers from a large US university (N = 367) completed an internet-based survey that tested the effect of text-only and pictorial health warning labels and their location on different parts of waterpipe smoking devices. RESULTS: Text-only messages and pictorial labels warning about harm to children were the most effective in motivating waterpipe smokers to think about quitting. In terms of warning label location, the base, mouthpiece and stem are all equally noticeable locations. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to test waterpipe-specific warning labels and location on the waterpipe device. Placing waterpipe-specific labels on waterpipe devices may be an effective policy tool to curb waterpipe smoking.
OBJECTIVES: Youth have the misperception that waterpipe smoking is less harmful than cigarettes despite the evidence that it is associated with nicotine dependence and many of the diseases caused by cigarettes. There is a pressing need to identify effective health warnings that increase awareness about the harmful effects of waterpipe smoking. Our objective was to test the effectiveness of various health warning messages and their location on waterpipe devices. METHODS: Adult waterpipe smokers from a large US university (N = 367) completed an internet-based survey that tested the effect of text-only and pictorial health warning labels and their location on different parts of waterpipe smoking devices. RESULTS: Text-only messages and pictorial labels warning about harm to children were the most effective in motivating waterpipe smokers to think about quitting. In terms of warning label location, the base, mouthpiece and stem are all equally noticeable locations. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to test waterpipe-specific warning labels and location on the waterpipe device. Placing waterpipe-specific labels on waterpipe devices may be an effective policy tool to curb waterpipe smoking.
Authors: James F Thrasher; Matthew J Carpenter; Jeannette O Andrews; Kevin M Gray; Anthony J Alberg; Ashley Navarro; Daniela B Friedman; K Michael Cummings Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2012-12 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Ramzi G Salloum; Wasim Maziak; David Hammond; Rima Nakkash; Farahnaz Islam; Xi Cheng; James F Thrasher Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2015-09-09 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Taghrid Asfar; Ziyad Ben Taleb; Olatokunbo Osibogun; Estefania C Ruano-Herreria; Danielle Sierra; Kenneth D Ward; Ramzi G Salloum; Wasim Maziak Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2018-11-15 Impact factor: 2.164
Authors: Taghrid Asfar; Michael Schmidt; Mohammad Ebrahimi Kalan; Wensong Wu; Kenneth D Ward; Rima T Nakkash; James Thrasher; Thomas Eissenberg; Habiba Ben Romdhane; Wasim Maziak Journal: Tob Control Date: 2019-01-29 Impact factor: 7.552