Hookah Smoking with Health Risk Perception of Different Types of Tobacco

Hookah is a tobacco product that is gaining popularity in the United States and other countries, particularly among the youth. In this paper, we examine the perception of health risks of different types of tobacco use in comparison to hookah use among 671 participants respond to a survey conducted in Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan who never smoke or smoke "cigarette, hookah, both cigarette and hookah"; and determine whether smoking status influenced the perceived health risks of hookah smoking when compared to other forms of tobacco use. The survey had 43 questions including questions about demographics, socioeconomic status, health care, etc. All statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 22. This study found that 44.1% of the participants believed that hookah was less harmful than each of the other tobacco products studied. Approximately 26% of cigarette smokers are likely to smoke hookah also. These findings emphasize the importance of spreading awareness about the health risks associated with hookah smoking and implementing strict laws for showing tobacco-related warnings in hookah advertisements and on the packets of hookah accessories given the increasing popularity of hookah, especially among the youth, in the United States.