Waterpipe Use in Canada: Evidence, Perceptions, and Policy Implications

• Author / Creator

  Hammal, Fadi

• Canadian research on the phenomenon of waterpipe (WP) use has been slow to develop. Significant knowledge gaps have hampered tobacco control efforts in this area. This thesis presents results from three multidisciplinary studies that were designed to provide fundamental knowledge about WP use. Study 1 provided the first Canadian assessment of the chemical contents of commercially available, so-called ‘herbal’ shisha. Study 2 described knowledge of Canadian medical students about WP (and other tobacco) use. Study 3 explored young adults’ current knowledge and attitudes toward WP use. Collectively, the findings have important implications for designing appropriate education and prevention strategies to address the spread of WP use in Canada, and support an evidence-based approach to developing appropriate policies to address the phenomenon. For years, research interest in smoking WPs in Canada was limited. This created a knowledge gap in tobacco control efforts, which will require further efforts to increase our understanding of the determinants of WP smoking. The present research will help to increase awareness about its health hazards, to design special prevention and treatment interventions, and to incorporate WP use control policy within national and provincial tobacco control policies.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Waterpipe
  • Hookah
  • Policy
  • Canada
  • Qualitative

• Graduation date

  Spring 2015

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3FM2V

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.