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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Mar:78:94-100.
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.10.023. Epub 2017 Oct 28.

The impact of a brief cessation induction intervention for waterpipe tobacco smoking: A pilot randomized clinical trial

Eleanor L S Leavens  1 , Ellen Meier  2 , Alayna P Tackett  3 , Mary Beth Miller  4 , Noor N Tahirkheli  5 , Emma I Brett  6 , Dana M Carroll  7 , Leslie M Driskill  5 , Michael P Anderson  8 , Theodore L Wagener  9
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The impact of a brief cessation induction intervention for waterpipe tobacco smoking: A pilot randomized clinical trial

Eleanor L S Leavens et al. Addict Behav. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Waterpipe (WP) tobacco smoking delivers many of the same harmful toxicants as cigarette smoking and is on the rise in the US. This study evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of a brief personalized feedback intervention in affecting changes in WP smoking among current WP smokers.

Methods: Participants (N=109) were recruited as they entered WP lounges and completed a questionnaire and exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) testing before entering the WP lounge. Participants were cluster-randomized to assessment-only control (AOC) or intervention conditions. The intervention condition received health risk information and personalized feedback on pre- and post-WP session eCO levels. Participants completed a survey at the end of the WP session and at 3-month follow-up.

Results: Compared to control, the intervention was effective in increasing knowledge of WP-related harms, correcting risk perceptions, increasing importance of quitting WP smoking, and increasing confidence in ability to quit WP smoking at post-WP session (p<0.05). Differences were maintained for knowledge of WP-related harms, risk perceptions, and commitment to quitting WP at 3-month follow-up; however, no significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in WP smoking (i.e., days smoked and number of WPs smoked) at 3-month follow-up between the intervention (M=3.97days, SD=9.83; M=6.45 bowls, SD=19.60) and control conditions (M=3.32days, SD=5.24; M=3.49 bowls, SD=5.10).

Conclusions: The current research supports the use of personalized feedback as a useful intervention method to increase commitment to quit WP, but suggests more intensive interventions may be necessary to achieve WP cessation.

Keywords: Cessation; Intervention; Smoking; Waterpipe.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant Flow Note. WP = waterpipe. †One participant reported never smoking WP with no intention to begin smoking and was therefore removed from analyses.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Perceived Absolute Harmfulness of WP Smoking across Study Time Points Note. WP = waterpipe. Mean (±SEM) data for perceptions of harmfulness over time between treatment groups. *p < .05, **p < .01.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Confidence in Ability to Quit WP Smoking across Study Time Points Note. WP = waterpipe. Mean (±SEM) data for confidence in ability to quit over time between treatment groups. *p < .05, **p < .01.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Commitment to Quit WP Smoking across Study Time Points Note. WP = waterpipe. Mean (±SEM) data for commitment to quit over time between treatment groups. *p < .05, **p < .01.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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