Standardizing questionnaire items for the assessment of waterpipe tobacco use in epidemiological studies

W Maziak; K.D Ward; R.A Afifi Soweid; T Eissenberg

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2004.08.002

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Standardizing questionnaire items for the assessment of waterpipe tobacco use in epidemiological studies

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Standardizing questionnaire items for the assessment of waterpipe tobacco use in epidemiological studies

W Maziak, K.D Ward, R.A Afifi Soweid and T Eissenberg

Public health (London), Vol.119(5), pp.400-404

2005

DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2004.08.002

PMID: 15780328

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Abstract

Lessons from surveillance of the smoking epidemic show that the lack of adequate attention to standardizing measures and instruments for epidemiological studies has negatively influenced our ability to assess spatial and secular trends in smoking worldwide. Waterpipe smoking, another hazardous form of tobacco use, is gaining popularity worldwide, with societies in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) being most affected. Several research groups are currently investigating the epidemiology of waterpipe smoking among various populations in the EMR. Initial evidence shows that in contrast to usage patterns observed in adult cigarette smoking, waterpipe smoking is characterized mainly by intermittent and social use. As such, many measures that have been traditionally used for the study of usage patterns and dependence among adult cigarette smokers are uninformative for waterpipe smoking. Thus, the need to develop standardized measures and terminology for assessment of the epidemiology of waterpipe smoking in different populations is of paramount importance. As the monitoring of waterpipe smoking is in its infancy, the development of consensus measures should facilitate the initiation of effective surveillance that can guide public health response to this emerging epidemic.

Cigarette

Tobacco

Waterpipe smoking

Epidemiology

Waterpipe

Syria

Smoking

Details

Title: Subtitle: Standardizing questionnaire items for the assessment of waterpipe tobacco use in epidemiological studies
Creators: W Maziak - Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, P.O. Box 16542, Aleppo, Syria
K.D Ward - Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, P.O. Box 16542, Aleppo, Syria
R.A Afifi Soweid - Department of Health Behavior and Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
T Eissenberg - Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, P.O. Box 16542, Aleppo, Syria
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Public health (London), Vol.119(5), pp.400-404
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2004.08.002
PMID: 15780328
NLM abbreviation: Public Health
ISSN: 0033-3506
eISSN: 1476-5616
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Language: English
Date published: 2005
Academic Unit: Injury Prevention Research Center; Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984064186102771

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