Beirut Shelled Again by New Devastating Study on Narghile Smoking. Inauguration of Junk Science Awards

New study funded by Canadian RITC Research for International Tobacco Control and American University of Beirut leaves millions dumbfounded.

Tamim H, Al-Sahab B, Akkary G, Ghanem M, Tamim N, Roueiheb ZE, Kanj M, Afifi R. Cigarette and Nargileh Smoking Practices Among School Students in Beirut, Lebanon. Am J Health Behav 2007 (Jan-Feb);31(1):56-63.

Note: Hala Tamim is also one of the renown experts cited in the famous WHO (World Health Organization) report on “Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking”, the first ever published by this UN organization.

JUNK SCIENCE AWARDS

For the Observatory on Hookah Studies, this is an excellent opportunity to launch the Junk Science Awards for studies in this field. As a beginning, the JUNK SCIENCE GOLDEN PALM is awarded to 3 candidates:

-> the above amateurs who are also the authors of previous similar “studies” on narghile smoking. See relevant critique HERE

-> the Editor of the American Journal of Health Behavior and its highly knowledgeable peer-reviewers who have rejected a critique of the above publication (note: the Letter to the Editor is available to anybody upon request so you can judge by yourself).

-> Monique Chaaya and her team, authors of an earlier similar study: Chaaya M., Roueiheb Z.E., Chemaitelly H., Azar G., Nasr J. and Al-Sahab B. Argileh smoking among university students: A new tobacco epidemic. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2004 Jun; 6 (3):457-63.

For a critique of this last publication, contact us so we can give you the full references and you can judge by yourself.

Now, so what ? Don’t worry, folks ! Times are a changing… Read this:

Heading Towards an All-Out Revolution in Hookah Studies

The Resistance Scientific Committee of the Observatory on Hookah Studies is happy to announce, in the other hand, that the BRONZE PALM FOR SOUND STUDIES in this field (or any close or related one) is awarded to:

-> Hanna L, Hunt S, Bhopal RS. Cross-cultural adaptation of a tobacco questionnaire for Punjabi,Cantonese, Urdu and Sylheti speakers: qualitative research for better clinical practice, cessation services and research . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2006;60:1034-1039.

-> Al-Mutairi SS, Shihab-Eldeen AA, Mojiminiyi OA, Anwar, AA. Comparative analysis of the effects of hubble-bubble (Sheesha) and cigarette smoking on respiratory and metabolic parameters in hubble-bubble and cigarette smokers. Respirology 2006; 11: 449-55


Image: Courtesy of Voltaire

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