Perceptions of adolescence and young adults’ women about the Predictors ofHookah tobacco smoking: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Background: Despite, Hookah tobacco smoking (HTS) is one of the most important risk factorsthat increase the burden of diseases worldwide, it has become alarmingly popular amongadolescence and young adults women. Thus, it is essential to identify the perceptions associatedwith this unhealthy behavior to design the effective programs. This study aimed to Experiences ofadolescence and young adults women about the Predictors of Hookah tobacco smoking.Methods: This was a qualitative study framed by the Extended Parallel Process Model conductedin Isfahan and Hamadan, Iran from August ۲۰۱۷ to January ۲۰۱۹. Study participants wereadolescent and young adult women. Data were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews.All interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Sampling was done through bothpurposeful and snowball sampling and was continued up to data saturation. A content analysisapproach was used to explore the data.Results: overall ۳۴ adolescent and young adult women participated in the study. The mean age ofwomen was ۲۲.۹۷ (SD = ۴.۸۹) years, on average. Data analysis led to the extraction of ۸۶ primarycodes that were categorized into predetermined levels of the Extended Parallel Process Modelincluding susceptibility, perceived severity, Response Efficacy, perceived self-efficacy fear, fearreactions, attitude and a new variable called Focusing on superior rewards. The findings of thestudy showed that the most important predictors for the HTS were the structures of attitude andFocusing on superior rewards.Conclusions: Findings were consistent with EPPM, which suggests this model is a potential toolfor understanding adolescence and young adult women intention to HTS. Future research shouldutilize quantitative methods to test this model.