Student's perspectives in Tehran University of Medical Sciences about factors affecting smoking hookah

Smoking hookah is recognized as a growing health problem in Iran and many countries in the world and its harmful outcomes on human health have attracted attention of medical community. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting on hookah smoking in male students who are living in dormitories of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2011. This study was a descriptive analytical. The questionnaire was developed and its validity and reliability was assessed. Then, 162 male students living in dormitories at Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected in multi-stage sampling and questionnaires were filled out by them. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software and the Chi-Square and Independent sample T- tests. The results showed that 29% of subjects had history of smoking hookah. The main factors affecting the use of hookah from subjects point of view, were filling leisure time, cost-effectiveness, anxiety reduction, refreshment and easy access to the hookah. Designing multi-dimensional activities for filling leisure time of college students who living in dormitories (such as promote sports activities), teaching of problem-solving methods for reducing anxiety and fatigue and learning skills to say”NO” against request of friends for smoking hookah, can lead to reduced smoking hookah in this group.