Faisal Almogbel1, Salman Almuqbil2, Unaib Rabbani3, Yasser Almogbel4. 1. Department of Infection Control, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia. 2. Dental Department, Jazan Armed Forces Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. 3. Quality and Accreditation Unit, Family Medicine Academy, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia. 4. Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Novel tobacco products are becoming more popular in the Middle East and especially in Saudi Arabia. We studied the prevalence of midwakh pipe (tobacco smoking pipe) use among students at Qassim University and evaluated factors associated with midwakh pipe usage. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire to collect the data. The participants were male students from Qassim University, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected over the period from May to June 2018. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify sociodemographic factors and smoking history related to midwakh smoking. RESULTS: A total of 316 responses were collected; 7.9% (n=25) were midwakh smokers at some point, and 3.8% (n=12) were current midwakh smokers. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that the significant predictors of midwakh smoking among male university students were having a friend who is a tobacco or midwakh smoker, and consuming other forms of tobacco other than midwakh. CONCLUSIONS: Having midwakh smoking friends, having friends smoking any other form of tobacco, and being a smoker could predict the use of midwakh among university male students in Saudi Arabia. Interventions are required to control this behavior to prevent smoking-related health consequences.
INTRODUCTION: Novel tobacco products are becoming more popular in the Middle East and especially in Saudi Arabia. We studied the prevalence of midwakh pipe (tobacco smoking pipe) use among students at Qassim University and evaluated factors associated with midwakh pipe usage. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire to collect the data. The participants were male students from Qassim University, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected over the period from May to June 2018. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify sociodemographic factors and smoking history related to midwakh smoking. RESULTS: A total of 316 responses were collected; 7.9% (n=25) were midwakh smokers at some point, and 3.8% (n=12) were current midwakh smokers. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that the significant predictors of midwakh smoking among male university students were having a friend who is a tobacco or midwakh smoker, and consuming other forms of tobacco other than midwakh. CONCLUSIONS: Having midwakh smoking friends, having friends smoking any other form of tobacco, and being a smoker could predict the use of midwakh among university male students in Saudi Arabia. Interventions are required to control this behavior to prevent smoking-related health consequences.