El-Shahawy Omar, Haddad Linda
Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2015 Jan 30;6:25-32. doi: 10.2147/SAR.S72360. eCollection 2015.
Evidence suggests that dual cigarette and water pipe use is growing among minority groups, particularly among Arab Americans. Differences in nicotine dependence and barriers to smoking cessation among such dual smokers have not been previously examined in this population. We examined potential differences that might exist between exclusive cigarette smokers and dual smokers (cigarette and water pipe) pertaining to nicotine dependence and barriers to cessation among Arab Americans.
We conducted a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of self-identified Arab immigrant smokers (n=131) living in the Richmond, VA metropolitan area. Data were collected using four questionnaires: Demographic and Cultural Information questionnaire, Tobacco Use questionnaire, Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) questionnaire, and Barriers to Cessation questionnaire. We examined differences in nicotine dependence and barriers to cessation between exclusive cigarette smokers and dual smokers of cigarettes and water pipe. Furthermore, we explored the correlations of these measures with select variables.
There was a significant difference in the FTND scores between the exclusive cigarette smokers (mean M=2.55, standard deviation [SD] =2.10) and dual smokers (M=3.71, SD =2.42); t(129) = (2.51), P=0.0066. There was also a significant difference in the Barriers to Cessation scores between exclusive cigarette smokers (M=38.47, SD =13.07) and dual smokers (M=45.21, SD =9.27); t(129) = (2.56), P=0.0058. Furthermore, there was a highly significant correlation among FTND scores, Barriers to Cessation scores, and past quit attempts among dual smokers.
Water pipe tobacco smoking seems to be both adding to the dependence potential of cigarette smoking and enhancing barriers to cessation in our study sample. However, the high correlation between quit attempts, FTND, and barriers to cessation needs further investigation to ascertain the possible reasons behind it. This preliminary study utilized a cross-sectional survey among participants of a rather small convenience sample, especially in the dual smokers group. Thus, there is a need to examine these differences via a longitudinal design in a larger sample.
有证据表明，同时吸食香烟和水烟的情况在少数群体中呈上升趋势，尤其是在美国阿拉伯裔群体中。此前尚未对该群体中此类同时吸烟者在尼古丁依赖和戒烟障碍方面的差异进行过研究。我们研究了美国阿拉伯裔中，仅吸香烟者与同时吸香烟和水烟者在尼古丁依赖和戒烟障碍方面可能存在的潜在差异。
我们采用横断面研究方法，对居住在弗吉尼亚州里士满市区的131名自我认定为阿拉伯移民吸烟者进行了便利抽样。通过四份问卷收集数据：人口统计学和文化信息问卷、烟草使用问卷、尼古丁依赖Fagerström测试（FTND）问卷以及戒烟障碍问卷。我们研究了仅吸香烟者与同时吸香烟和水烟者在尼古丁依赖和戒烟障碍方面的差异。此外，我们还探讨了这些指标与选定变量之间的相关性。
仅吸香烟者（平均M = 2.55，标准差[SD] = 2.10）与同时吸香烟和水烟者（M = 3.71，SD = 2.42）的FTND得分存在显著差异；t(129) = (2.51)，P = 0.0066。仅吸香烟者（M = 38.47，SD = 13.07）与同时吸香烟和水烟者（M = 45.21，SD = 9.27）的戒烟障碍得分也存在显著差异；t(129) = (2.56)，P = 0.0058。此外，同时吸香烟和水烟者的FTND得分、戒烟障碍得分与过去的戒烟尝试之间存在高度显著的相关性。
在我们的研究样本中，吸食水烟似乎既增加了吸烟的依赖可能性，又增强了戒烟障碍。然而，戒烟尝试、FTND与戒烟障碍之间的高相关性需要进一步调查，以确定其背后可能的原因。这项初步研究在一个相当小的便利样本参与者中进行了横断面调查，尤其是在同时吸香烟和水烟者组中。因此，有必要通过纵向设计在更大的样本中研究这些差异。
