Use and knowledge of hookah among health science college students

This study aims to evaluate the use and knowledge of hookah among university students in the health area. It is a cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were applied to 564 students, with questions about socioeconomic variables, self-rated health, life habits, use and knowledge about the consequences of the use of hookah. The prevalence of occasional use of hookah was 51.8%, with no difference between courses. They were identified as associated to occasional use of hookah: to have monthly family income per capita greater than R$2,000.00 (p=0.02,OR=1.8,IC95%1.10-3.13) and to ingest alcohol (p<0.001,OR=5.6, IC95%3.50-8.94). Among the total of students, 65.9% of those who reported using hookah and 66.8% of those who did not were never instructed by a health professional about their risks. Higher proportions of students reporting occasional use of hookah incorrectly answered questions about hookah being harmful to health (p=0.02). Similarly about the level of nicotine that is exposed during a hookah session being smaller when compared to the traditional form (p<0.001), and hookah smoking do not harm, as the impurities of the smoke are filtered by the water placed in the container (p<0.01). The importance of prevention and treatment actions directed to the use of hookah by university students is emphasized.