Relationships among factual and perceived knowledge of harms of waterpipe tobacco, perceived risk, and desire to quit among college users.
Waterpipe tobacco smoking is increasing in the United States among college students. Through a web-based survey, we explored associations among factual and perceived knowledge, perceived risks and worry about harm and addiction, and desire to quit among 316 college waterpipe tobacco smoking users. Overall, factual knowledge of the harm of waterpipe tobacco smoking was poor, factual and perceived knowledge was weakly correlated, both forms of knowledge were related inconsistently to perceived risks and worry, and neither form of knowledge was associated with the desire to quit. Findings provide preliminary insights as to why knowledge gaps may not predict cessation among waterpipe users.
Duke University School of Nursing, USA Isaac.lipkus@duke.edu.
Isaac M
IM
Lipkus
Virginia Commonwealth University, USA.
Thomas
T
Eissenberg
Duke University Medical Center, USA.
Rochelle D
RD
Schwartz-Bloom
University of Texas, USA.
Alexander V
AV
Prokhorov
Duke University School of Nursing, USA.
Janet
J
Levy
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult; D014026:Nicotiana
health behavior; health psychology; public health psychology; smoking; students