Pattern of Hookah Smoking in Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Although hookah smoking is common in Iran, there is a little information about this behavior. The aim of present study was to determine the pattern of hookah smoking and its related factors in Tabriz city. Ten coffee houses were selected randomly and a self-administered questionnaire offered to 50 randomly selected hookah smokers in each selected coffee houses. A total of 456 questionnaires were completed. The questionnaire consisted of some questions about demographic characteristics, rate of hookah smoking and reason for hookah smoking. The mean age of the subjects was 39 ± 14.3 (min. 14, max. 80) years old. The results showed that 82% of subjects smoked hookah at least 4 times week (Regular hookah smoker). Fifty-one percent of subjects were only hookah smokers and did not smoke cigarette. Also the majority of subjects believed that hookah smoking was an appropriate solution for cigarette smoking cessation. They believed that hookah smoking was less hazardous and also cheaper than cigarette smoking. This study showed characteristics of hookah smoker in the coffee houses. Based on the results of this study, there is appropriate setting to conduct more researches about effect of hookah smoking on diseases especially in form of case-control study, because more than half of the hookah smokers don’t smoke anything other than hookah.