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Emerging tobacco product use is increasing. We evaluated factors associated with perceived risk of and intention to use waterpipe tobacco by surveying students at a large university in the southeastern U.S. (N=667). Proportional odds modeling assessed whether demographic characteristics and social acceptability are associated with perceived risk of waterpipe tobacco use; and if these factors and perceived risk are related to intention to use waterpipe tobacco. Participants who perceived waterpipe tobacco to be more socially acceptable had lower odds of perceiving it as risky (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50-0.68). Compared with never users, former tobacco users and current users had lower odds of perceiving waterpipe tobacco use as risky (95% CI 0.38-0.80 and 0.28-0.63, respectively). Similarly, students with greater perceived social acceptability scores had higher odds of intending to use waterpipe tobacco (95% CI 1.41-2.63), while those who perceived greater risk had lower odds of intending to use it (95% CI 0.34-0.64). Compared with never users, former users had higher odds of intending to use waterpipe tobacco (95% CI 1.42-7.21). Among those who had ever used waterpipe tobacco, 90% reported 'to socialize' as the most frequent reason for deciding to do so. Findings underscore the need for future prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Tobacco media campaigns are effective, but less is known regarding the impact on college students.Purpose:The purpose was to test the effects of an on-campus Tips television campaign on frequency and believability of ads recalled and to assess demographic and personal factors associated with believability.Methods:A quasi-experimental pre–post design was used to assess the 8-week campaign with 3 Tips ads. Two randomly selected cohorts of college students (N = 1593) from a large public university completed online surveys pre- and postcampaign. Group comparisons using chi-square tests, 2-samplettests, and logistic regression, controlling for residence or cohort, and predictors of believability using proportional odds modeling were examined.Results:Ads were recalled by significantly more students (68%) postcampaign. Believability for one or more ads was lower for males, undergraduates, those belonging to fraternity/sorority, and current polytobacco users (P < .05). Believability was greater for those who recalled seeing the ads more often (P < .05).Discussion:Subgroups of college students, including males and undergraduates, reported less ad believability, which should be considered when designing communication strategies.Translation to Health Education Practice:Considering the potential impact and cost-effective nature of on-campus TV media campaigns, these ads need to be integrated into current campus tobacco control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: (1) Compare social norms and perceived peer use between college student cigarette, e-cigarette, and/or hookah users and nonusers; and (2) determine variables associated with social influences.Participants: Undergraduate students attending a large university in the Southeast United States (N= 511).Methods: An April 2013 online survey assessed use of 3 types of tobacco, social norms, perception of peer use, number of smokers in life, exposure to secondhand smoke, and demographic characteristics.Results: Participants indicated greater acceptance of emerging tobacco products than for cigarettes and consistently overestimated the percent of peers who use various tobacco products. Males and current users had higher social norm scores for all 3 forms of tobacco.Conclusion: To counter marketing of alternative tobacco products, education about the dangers of their use needs to be implemented across college campuses as part of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy that also includes tobacco-free campus policies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Little is known about the impact of smoke-free legislation on smoking and drinking alcohol among college students. The purpose was to examine whether strength and duration of municipal smoke-free laws are associated with cigarette and alcohol use among college students. Full-time undergraduates from two Southeastern universities participated in mailed (Site A) or electronic (Site B) surveys assessing tobacco and alcohol use and other risk behaviors pre and post comprehensive municipal smoke-free laws (Site A, N = 1,366. Site B, N = 1,404). The first cohort at each site participated prior to a municipal smoke-free law in the community. The second survey was conducted post-law (Site A, 3.5 years, Site B, 8 months). Past 30-day cigarette and alcohol use and other demographic and personal characteristics were assessed. At Site A, controlling for demographic differences and current alcohol use, the odds of being a current smoker were 32% lower post-law (28% pre-law vs. 19% post-law; odds ratio = 0.68, P = 0.02). At Site B, with demographics and drinking status in the model, the decrease in smoking rate from pre- to post-law was not significant. At both sites, controlling for demographics and current smoking status, change in the likelihood of drinking was not significant. Comprehensive smoke-free laws in the surrounding community may reduce smoking rates among college students who live, work and recreate there, particularly after the laws are well-established. While alcohol prevalence is very high among college students, enacting smoke-free legislation was not associated with alcohol use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]