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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 16, Number 1

Assessment of tobacco dependence in waterpipe smokers in Egypt

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SETTING: Waterpipe smoking is increasing worldwide. Nevertheless, little is known about nicotine dependence in tobacco smokers who use waterpipes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess evidence of dependence among non-cigarette smoking waterpipe smokers in Egypt.

METHODS: A total of 154 male exclusive current waterpipe smokers were enrolled for the present study. We adapted the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence and the Reasons for Smoking (RFS) scales and related these to smoking behavior.

RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 47 ± 14 years, the mean age at smoking initiation was 22 ± 9 years, and average daily consumption was 4 ± 8 hagars (tobacco units). The time to the first smoke of the day (P < 0.001), smoking even when ill (P = 0.003), time to tobacco craving (P < 0.001), and hating to give up the first smoke of the day (P = 0.033) were each significantly associated with the number of hagars smoked per day. The RFS subscales of addictive smoking, smoking to relieve negative affect, and smoking for stimulation were also associated with these variables.

CONCLUSION: The overall findings suggest that waterpipe smokers exhibit many of the same features of nicotine dependency attributed to cigarette smokers.

Keywords: Egypt; FTND; RFS; nicotine dependence; waterpipe smoking

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt 2: Department of Public Health, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; and International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Union Middle East, Cairo, Egypt 3: Department of Oncology, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA 4: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 5: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; deceased

Publication date: 01 January 2012

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  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

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