Waterpipe Warning Placement and Risk Perceptions: An Eye Tracking Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• Waterpipe (WP) smoking is a growing public health concern, particularly among young adults.
• Misperceptions regarding the harms of WP smoking are prevalent.
• Effective health warning messages (HWMS) are crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify optimal placement for health warning messages (HWMS) on waterpipes (WPs).
• To assess the impact of HWMS on visual attention and harm perceptions related to WP smoking.

Main Methods:

• A within-subjects randomized experiment (N=74) utilizing eye-tracking equipment.
• Evaluation of three HWMS placements on WPs: stem, water bowl, and hose.
• Measurement of visual attention and changes in harm perceptions before, during, and after exposure.

Main Results:

• All tested HWMS placements on WPs garnered comparable visual attention.
• Exposure to HWMS significantly increased participants' perceptions of WP smoking harms.
• Elevated harm perceptions were sustained at a one-week follow-up assessment.

Conclusions:

• Health warning labels on WPs attract visual attention and effectively enhance harm awareness.
• The findings support the integration of HWMS on WP devices to address misperceptions.
• HWMS are a necessary and effective tool in combating the harms associated with waterpipe use.