Background: Water-pipe smoking (WPS) is considered as one of the most dangerous patterns of tobacco smoking. It is expected by the end of this century to kill a billion people or more unless urgent action is taken. Jordan is ranked as the fourth highest Arab country in regards to smoking rates. It aims to investigate Jordanian university students' knowledge and beliefs towards WPS; explore factors that are associated with being a WPS smoker; and evaluate the effectiveness of a WPS cessation program. Method: A randomized clinical trial design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a WPS cessation educational program. The sample included 400 students. Ethical approval was obtained from the target universities before data collection, and each participant was asked to sign a written consent form. Invitations was posted through internet websites and announcement boards in the universities. Results: The difference in the educational program posttest total score (dependent variables) were statistically significant: motivation (F {1, 257}=1365, p = 0.000), attitudes (F{1,257}= 276, p = 0.000), knowledge of health effects (F{1, 257}= 307, p = 0.000), health risks (F{1,257}= 329, p = 0.000), and intention to quit smoking shisha (F{1,257}= 318, p = 0.000). Conclusion: It was found to be effective in promoting students' knowledge and attitudes towards WPS and intention to quit WPS. Therefore, health faculties have the obligation to conduct frequent educational sessions using various teaching approaches as part of the campaigns to fight against the epidemic of the WPS within this age group.
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Hussami, a professor of epidemiology and leadership at the University of Jordan, School of Nursing. His teaching has a wide range of undergraduate and graduate modules in the school of nursing and school of medicine. His research includes leadership in healthcare and infectious disease epidemiology. He published over 52 research articles in distinguished and prestigious journals. Al-Hussami has been awarded his PhD (2007) from Barry University, for his research in leadership. Also, he received his DSc. in Health Science, specialized in Epidemiology, from Nova Southeastern University in 2005 and MPH in Epidemiology from Florida International University. As a faculty member at the university of Jordan Dr. Al-Hussami has some hopes and plans to improve the ultimate goal for his school beside his personal long life learning goals, which represent a more advanced stage of renewal and build the sense of self-esteem by enhancing the store of knowledge, thus promoting on increased level of competence and efficacy in approaching work related problems.
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