Characteristics of Waterpipe Smokers Who Are Willing to Quit: Population-Based Findings from Syria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 1. College of Population Health, University of New Mexico, NM, USA 2. Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, Aleppo, Syria

2 School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA

3 1. Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, Aleppo, Syria 2. Iowa City VA Health Care System, School of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA

4 1. Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, Aleppo, Syria 2. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami Miller, Miami, FL, USA

5 1. Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, Aleppo, Syria 2. Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

10.34172/ahj.1526

Abstract

Background: Many waterpipe users are willing to quit but have difficulty doing so. Little is known about the characteristics of 
those who are willing to quit. 
Methods: Using two-stage cluster sampling, we conducted a secondary analysis of a population-based household survey of 2038 
adults in Aleppo, Syria. We examined the prevalence of, and reasons for, willingness to quit and compared users who were willing 
with those were not willing to quit based on sociodemographic, psychosocial, tobacco-related, and health-related characteristics. 
Findings: Twelve percent of adults smoked waterpipe (n=248), of these, 56% were willing to quit, and 25% had made a quit 
attempt in the past year. Friends/socializing (69%) and boredom/free time (16%) were the most reported obstacles to quitting. 
Those who were willing to quit walked more frequently (odds ratio [OR]=1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.24-2.77), ate less 
fruit (OR=0.56; CI=0.42-0.73), and were more likely to experience sneezing/blocked nose (OR=2.55, CI=1.22-5.34). Compared 
to users who did not also smoke cigarettes, dual users who were willing to quit cigarettes were more likely to be willing to quit 
waterpipe (OR=2.32; CI=1.24-4.34), whereas dual users who were not willing to quit cigarettes were less likely to be willing to 
quit waterpipe (OR=0.24; CI=0.10-0.58). 
Conclusion: Many waterpipe users are willing to quit and perceive the loss of positive social functions as a major obstacle. Very 
few sociodemographic, tobacco-related, psychosocial, or health-related characteristics are associated with willingness to quit. 
However, quitting efforts may benefit from targeting dual users who are motivated to quit using all tobacco products. 

Highlights

Kenneth D Ward: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Ayesha Mukhopadhyay: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Tony Lugemwa: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Mark W Vander Weg: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Taghrd Asfar: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Wasim Maziak: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Keywords

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Addiction & Health
Volume 16, Issue 3
July 2024
Pages 163-172

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