Perspectives of Medical Students’ Tendency toward Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: A Qualitative Research

Water pipe tobacco smoking is used as a traditional way of smoking, but its ascending trend and increasing consumption has become a global phenomenon, which has been associated with increased consumption of fruity or flavored tobaccos. Given the students’ increasing tendency in this regard, this study aimed to explore the medical students’ tendency toward using waterpipe tobacco smoking. This is a qualitative study using a semi-structured interview with 16 medical students in Southeastern Iran (Zabol) from January to May 2020. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Data analysis led to the extraction of 4 themes of “cultural/ family roots”, “individual roots”, “attraction of tobacco flavor and water pipe”, and “misconception about health risks of water pipe tobacco smoking”. Waterpipe tobacco smoking has increased among students for leisure and entertainment. Given that waterpipe tobacco smoking is the basis for entering various opioid addictions and cigarettes, it needs more attention to students from the academic side of principals and families. It is recommended that national and academic authorities should consider the issues that attract the students toward water pipe tobacco smoking.