Translating evidence and building capacity to support waterpipe control in the Eastern Mediterranean

摘要：在过去的十年里，水烟(WP；水烟)已成为头号烟草使用方式。 在东地中海地区(EMR)的青年中，可湿性粉病流行的循证解决方案 继续落后。这主要是由于两个因素：1)政策解决方案不匹配，源于 香烟对当地烟草使用方法的影响，如可湿性粉剂；和2)对当地烟草缺乏了解 控制(TC)政策环境和实施方面的挑战。另一方面，世界卫生组织的框架 EMR中大多数国家批准的《烟草控制公约》(FCTC)为 解决该地区的可湿性粉尘吸烟问题。自2002年开始以来，在TOBAC计划的支持下，我们在 叙利亚烟草研究中心(SCTS)一直站在描述可湿性粉剂疫情及其 健康和令人上瘾的特性。这样的基础工作已经为我们计划下一阶段的翻译做好了准备 将证据转化为政策，以支持电子病历努力控制可湿性粉病疫情。鉴于普遍存在的误解 可湿性粉剂比香烟危害更小，成瘾性更小，健康警告标签(HWL)在 为了传播与吸烟相关的风险，开发HWL是控制可湿性粉尘的优先事项。正在开发的HWL 然而，对于可湿性粉剂来说，需要适应其独特的多部分环境，包括烟草、设备和 木炭，而WP-HWL的实施需要了解当地的政策环境，以及 强有力的国家伙伴关系。在我们与黎巴嫩正在进行的合作的基础上(美国大学 (贝鲁特)和突尼斯(突尼斯大学)，我们希望帮助这些国家发展和实施 为可持续发展方案提供有效的人力资源，并建设其在TC政策研究方面的国家能力。我们将应用混合的 在目标人群成员的参与下开发和测试HWL的方法 主要由年轻人(18-25岁)组成。我们还将研究当地卫生的结构和功能 突尼斯和黎巴嫩的系统，这样我们就可以为执行可持续发展计划提出一个明确的路线图， 并在研究人员和政策制定者之间建立伙伴关系，以促进这种实施。这 应用程序代表我们的团队在应对WP疫情方面的持续领导地位，以及在 加强EMR中的TC能力。它将帮助突尼斯和黎巴嫩，也许还有其他国家发展 为可湿性粉剂制定有效的HWL，并为其配备成功实施这些HWL的手段。

Abstract: In the past decade waterpipe smoking (WP; hookah) has become the No. 1 tobacco use method among youth in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), yet evidence-based solutions to the WP epidemic continue to lag behind. This is mainly due to 2 factors; 1) the mismatch of policy solutions derived from cigarettes to local tobacco use methods such as the WP; and 2) the lack of understanding of local tobacco control (TC) policy environment and challenges to implementation. On the other hand, the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) ratified by most countries in the EMR provides an opportunity to address WP smoking in the region. Supported by program TOBAC since its beginning in 2002, our team at the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies (SCTS) has been on the forefront of characterizing the WP epidemic and its health and addictive properties. Such groundwork has prepared us to plan for the next stage of translating evidence into policy to support EMR efforts to control the WP epidemic. Given the widespread misperceptions that WP is less harmful and addictive than cigarettes, and the value of health warning labels (HWLs) in communicating smoking-related risks, the development of HWLs is a priority for WP control. Developing HWLs for the WP however, requires their adaptation to its unique multi-part context comprised of tobacco, device and charcoal, while implementation of WP-HWLs requires an understanding of the local policy environment, and strong national partnerships. Building on our ongoing collaboration with Lebanon (American University of Beirut) and Tunisia (University of Tunis), we want to assist these countries in developing and implementing effective HWLs for the WP and in building their national capacity in TC policy research. We will apply a mixed method approach to develop and test HWLs with the involvement of members of the target population comprised mostly of young adults (18-25 years). We will also study the structure and functioning of local health systems in Tunisia and Lebanon, so we can propose a clear roadmap for the implementation of WP-HWLs, and establish partnerships among researchers and policymakers than can facilitate such implementation. This application represents our team’s continuing leadership in responding to the WP epidemic, and in strengthening TC capacity in the EMR. It will help Tunisia and Lebanon, and perhaps other countries develop effective HWLs for WP, and equip them with the means to implement them successfully.