INTRODUCTION Waterpipe smoking has gained global popularity among adolescents and young adults. This study aimed to identify the predictors of waterpipe smoking among university students in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested, validated, and self-administered questionnaire to identify the predictors of waterpipe smoking among university students aged >18 years in the Qassim region. RESULTS Of the 1158 questionnaires distributed, 928 were returned with complete responses. Of these 928 participants, 820 were men (88.7%) and the majority were unmarried (95.6%). The risk of waterpipe smoking was significantly higher in students aged >26 years (OR=3.39; 95% CI: 1.30- 8.80), those who had a brother who smoked (OR=1.78; 95% CI: 1.13-2.79), and those who were married (OR=3.21; 95% CI: 1.36-7.59). Furthermore, participants who had smoked cigarettes (OR=3.18; 95% CI: 1.89-5.34) or other tobacco products (OR=6.39; 95% CI: 3.69-11.07) within the past 30 days, and students who believed that waterpipe smoking was less harmful than cigarette smoking (OR=2.61; 95% CI: 1.54-4.41) had a higher risk of engaging in waterpipe smoking. However, the risk was lower among students receiving a monthly financial aid of more than US$264 (OR=0.34; 95% CI: 0.13-0.89). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that higher age, being male, being married, low student financial aid, waterpipe smoker sibling, cigarette and other types of tobacco smoking in the past 30 days, and believing waterpipe smoking to be less harmful than cigarette smoking, were significant predictors of waterpipe smoking. Educational programs targeted at improving awareness of the adverse effects of waterpipe smoking should be considered for early prevention in young adults.

中文翻译：

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沙特阿拉伯卡西姆地区大学生吸水烟的预测因素。

引言 吸水烟在青少年和年轻人中已在全球范围内流行起来。本研究旨在确定沙特阿拉伯卡西姆地区大学生吸水烟的预测因素。方法 使用预先测试、验证和自我管理的问卷进行横断面研究，以确定 Qassim 地区 18 岁以上大学生吸水烟的预测因素。结果共发放问卷1158份，回收928份，全部回复。在这 928 名参与者中，820 人是男性 (88.7%)，大多数是未婚 (95.6%)。年龄大于 26 岁的学生（OR=3.39；95% CI：1.30-8.80）、有兄弟吸烟的学生（OR=1.78；95% CI：1.13-2.79）和已婚者（OR=3.21；95% CI：1.36-7.59）。此外，在过去 30 天内吸过香烟（OR=3.18；95% CI：1.89-5.34）或其他烟草制品（OR=6.39；95% CI：3.69-11.07）的参与者，以及认为吸水烟的学生比吸烟危害更小（OR=2.61；95% CI：1.54-4.41）有更高的吸水烟风险。然而，每月接受超过 264 美元经济援助的学生的风险较低（OR=0.34；95% CI：0.13-0.89）。结论 本研究表明，年龄较大、男性、已婚、学生资助低、兄弟姐妹吸水烟、在过去 30 天内吸过香烟和其他类型的烟草，并且认为吸水烟比吸食香烟危害更小吸水烟的预测因素。