Objective

To identify beliefs and attitudes of high school students in Las Palmas regarding waterpipe smoking. This objective responds to the recent and increasing waterpipe smoking among European adolescents, the lack of data on its determinants and the absence of research on this issue among adolescents in Spain.

Method

The sample, which comprised 1770 students of the province of Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), was obtained by stratifying each academic block by geographic areas, grouping the students in as many clusters as existing groups in the school for each year group. An ad hoc questionnaire was used to collect data and a descriptive analysis of the data carried out. Proportions were compared using the χ2 test.

Results

70.7% of adolescents considered that waterpipe smoking is less harmful than smoking cigarettes and 71.3% believed it to be less addictive. Students asserted that it is a generally accepted practice among their friends (63.7%) and in society (78.9%). 27.8% of the interviewees perceived that their parents would allow them to smoke waterpipe at home. All of these beliefs and attitudes were more common among smokers (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Most students consider waterpipe smoking to be less dangerous and less addictive than cigarette consumption. This belief, the perception of its social acceptance and family tolerance towards it have increased its popularity among adolescents.

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