Health Professions Programs Student Attitudes About Hookah Use

Audience: Any group in the area of tobacco control, including educators, policy makers, students, health care professionals, tobacco use prevention and treatment professionals and community leaders.

Key Points: A voluntary online survey containing 20 items was conducted at participating institutions, and responses were collected and results were tabulated. The study was multi-centered and included participation of six health professions programs.  Findings from our study suggest lack of knowledge on the effects of hookah. Health care professionals can play a key role in hookah use prevention, education and treatment.

Educational Experience: The purpose of this study was to identify to what extent health care professions program students are hookah users themselves, and to determine what they know about the health effects, both systemically and orally. Over 50 percent of respondents indicated ever having used a hookah and nearly 20 percent currently use the hookah. Nearly 20 percent were not knowledgeable regarding possible disease transmission by the mouthpiece. Almost half of those surveyed were unsure of the health consequences associated with hookah use. The amount of tar and nicotine inhaled during a hookah session was not known to most of those surveyed.

Benefits: Hookah use has become increasingly popular, especially for the college age population. Misconceptions exist among health care professions program students that hookah is a safer form of tobacco use. Further training in health professions programs on health effects needs to be implemented so that patients can be appropriately identified, advised and treated.