Knowledge of and Perceived Risks of Waterpipe among College Users

Audience: All individuals with varied background and roles interested in learning more about waterpipe tobacco use among college youth.

Key Points: Waterpipe tobacco use use is a growing public health concern among youth. We explored among 315 college waterpipe users, extent to which factual knowledge of harms of waterpipe correlated with perceived knowledge about harms and how both correlated with perceived risk and desire to quit.  Our sample consisted of 64% males, 67% Caucasian, of which 67%, 29% and 4% smoked waterpipe monthly, weekly and daily, respectively. Perceived knowledge, as assessed by eight 7-point Likert scale items (M=3.9), and factual knowledge, as assessed by 5-items (M=1.5), correlated weakly (r= .24, p=.0001).  Perceived risk of being harmed by continued waterpipe use (7-point Likert scale, M=3.0) was associated with greater perceived knowledge (r= .19, p=.0006), and factual knowledge (r=.14, p=.0154), although in a regression model only perceived knowledge continued to predict perceived risk (beta=.17, p=.0031).  Neither perceived nor factual knowledge were related to desire to quit (7-pt scale, M=2.0, rs <.10).  Perceived risk was associated with a greater desire to quit (r=.30, p=.0001). These data show that perceived rather than factual knowledge, both largely independent constructs, should receive greater focus to affect perceived risk of waterpipe use. 

Educational Experience: Will learn by interacting with poster presenter. Will have access to copies of poster findings for own use and application.

Benefits: Will review assessment of and relationships among perceived and factual knowledge concerning harms of waterpipe and perceived risk of harm.