Examine attitudes and Knowledge of the Harmful Effects of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking among Thi-Qar university students
1
Adult nursing department, College of nursing, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq
2
DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRIC NURSING, COLLEGE OF NURSING, UNIVERSITY OF THI-QAR, THI-QAR, IRAQ
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2025-06-21
Final revision date: 2025-08-22
Acceptance date: 2025-09-22
Publication date: 2025-12-11
Corresponding author
Ied Ali Omar Al-Sadoon
Adult nursing department, College of nursing, University of Thi-Qar, An Nasirriyah, 64001, An Nasirriyah, Iraq
Adult nursing department, College of nursing, University of Thi-Qar, An Nasirriyah, 64001, An Nasirriyah, Iraq
Wiadomości Lekarskie 2025;(10):2133-2141
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Aim:
To examines the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of nursing students in Iraq about WTS.
Material and methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2025 including 410 nursing students at Thi-Qar University, employing a validated English questionnaire. We employed SPSS v26 (p<0.05 significant) to analyze the data using chi-square testing.
Results:
The prevalence of current WTS was 13.2% (n=54), predominantly male (92.6% of smokers). Smokers had significantly higher mean age (24.2 vs 21.5 years, p<0.001) and were more likely to be in later academic years (68.5% vs 36.3%, p<0.001). While 81.5% of smokers recognized nicotine content, 68.5% erroneously believed WTS was less addictive than cigarettes. Significant knowledge gaps existed regarding tar content (only 63.0% smokers acknowledged) and toxin filtration (40.7% believed water filters toxins). Attitudinally, smokers were more likely to view WTS as socially advantageous (51.9% believed it increased friendships vs 21.1%, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
The significant prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) among nursing students at Thi-Qar University, along with the associated misconceptions, constitutes a critical public health issue, undermining both their health and their effectiveness as patient role models. Our findings indicate the need for the prompt incorporation of a focused educational module into the nursing curriculum that specifically dispels WTS misconceptions and examines its social drivers.
To examines the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of nursing students in Iraq about WTS.
Material and methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2025 including 410 nursing students at Thi-Qar University, employing a validated English questionnaire. We employed SPSS v26 (p<0.05 significant) to analyze the data using chi-square testing.
Results:
The prevalence of current WTS was 13.2% (n=54), predominantly male (92.6% of smokers). Smokers had significantly higher mean age (24.2 vs 21.5 years, p<0.001) and were more likely to be in later academic years (68.5% vs 36.3%, p<0.001). While 81.5% of smokers recognized nicotine content, 68.5% erroneously believed WTS was less addictive than cigarettes. Significant knowledge gaps existed regarding tar content (only 63.0% smokers acknowledged) and toxin filtration (40.7% believed water filters toxins). Attitudinally, smokers were more likely to view WTS as socially advantageous (51.9% believed it increased friendships vs 21.1%, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
The significant prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) among nursing students at Thi-Qar University, along with the associated misconceptions, constitutes a critical public health issue, undermining both their health and their effectiveness as patient role models. Our findings indicate the need for the prompt incorporation of a focused educational module into the nursing curriculum that specifically dispels WTS misconceptions and examines its social drivers.
| eISSN: | 2719-342X |
| ISSN: | 0043-5147 |
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