An evidence based public campaign against waterpipe / hookah smoking in Turkey
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Turkish Green Grescent Society, Turkey
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A768
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ABSTRACT
Background and challenges to implementation:
Hookah use has been spreading rapidly in
epidemic proportions in Turkey
Intervention or response:
Both
qualitative and quantitative pre-campaign research has been conducted in order
to define the perception, attitudes and behaviors of the target population
regarding hookah. In this stage we conducted focus group studies and a baseline
survey encompassing interviews with 1288 people. As a result of the
pre-campaign analyses, we observed that the level of awareness on the dangers
of hookah was very low compared to that of cigarettes, that hookah was not
perceived as a tobacco product, that it was preferred due its scents and
flavors and that many false beliefs were propagated such as its smoke being
less dangerous due to passing from water. Measurable objectives of our
campaign, campaign strategies and concepts were defined according to the data
collected through the pre-campaign analyses. We applied our campaign in four
phases. In each phase of our campaign we delivered different messages and the
public was gradually informed of hookah facts through the use of TV and radio
ads, outdoor materials, newspaper inserts, brochures and banners, PR studies as
well as the use of internet and social media.
Results and lessons learnt:
Following the campaign we surveyed 1266 people.The results of the post-campaign evaluation show that the campaign was successful in establishing perceived risk of hookah, changing perception and attitudes and developing the intention of quitting smoking hookah among the target population.
Conclusions and key recommendations:
Restrictions of flavored hookah tobacco would positively
impact our struggle against prevalent hookah use, since the analyses of target
population showed that 88% of users preferred flavored hookah. Legal
restrictions on the fast spreading hookah cafes would also reduce the
prevalence since hookah is perceived as
a means of socialization in hookah bars.
Legal and environmental regulations and restrictions are necessary in
order to prevent the hookah epidemic.