Shisha (waterpipe) smoking initiation among youth in Malaysia and global perspective: a scoping review (2006-2015)

- Electronic databases such as Cochrane, MEDLINE and PsycINFO were used to search for relevant articles.
- Inclusion criteria included age range of 10-29 years, examined the reasons why youth started or tried waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS).
- A total of 26 articles were included in this scoping review.
- This review has identified and classified the initiating factors of WTS among youth in four subtopics: individual factors, interpersonal influences, cigarettes and alcohol use, and media influences.
- Innovative peer-to-peer lead interventions on social media platforms are required to address misconception of risk associated to WTS use.

ObjectiveTo explore the initiating factors of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) among youth.Study designThe analytic framework for this scoping review was performed using the methodology outlined by Arksey and O'Malley, which includes identification of the research question, study selection, charting the data, collating, summarizing and reporting the results that were primarily guided by the research question; 'what is known about the initiation of shisha smoking among youth?'MethodsElectronic databases such as Cochrane, MEDLINE and PsycINFO were used to search for relevant articles. Articles included were all in English and published within the year of 2006 to 2015. Inclusion criteria; i) age range of 10 to 29 years; ii) examined the reasons why youth started or tried WTS; iii) in full text. Therefore, 26 articles were included in this scoping review.ResultsThis review has identified and classified the initiating factors of WTS among youth in four subtopics: individual factors, interpersonal influences, cigarettes and alcohol use, and media influences. Individual factors and interpersonal influences played an important role in initiation factors of WTS among youth.ConclusionThis study concludes that public health professionals within the Southeast Asia region need to promote innovative preventive measures through peer-to-peer led interventions that are also easily assessable on social media platforms. The public health messages need to address the misconceptions of risk associated to WTS use.