Correlates of Hookah Smoking among Arab Adults in Israel Identified by a Machine Learning Algorithm

Hookah smoking is a common activity around the world and has recently become a trend among youth. Studies have indicated a relationship between hookah smoking and a high prevalence of chronic diseases, cancer, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases. In Israel, there has been a sharp increase in hookah smoking among the Arabs. Most studies have focused mainly on hookah smoking among young people.

To examine the association between hookah smoking and socioeconomic characteristics, health status and behaviors, and knowledge in the adult Arab population and to build a prediction model using machine learning methods.

This quantitative study based is on data from the Health and Environment Survey conducted by the Galilee Society in 2015-2016. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 2046 adults aged 18 years and older.

Using machine learning, a prediction model was built based on eight features. Of the total study population, 13.0% smoked hookah. In the 18-34 age group, 19.5% smoked. Men, people with lower level of health knowledge, heavy consumers of energy drinks and alcohol, and unemployed people were more likely to smoke hookah. Younger and more educated people were more likely to smoke hookah.

Hookah smoking is a widespread behavior among adult Arabs in Israel. The model generated by our study is intended to help health organizations reach people at risk for smoking hookah and to suggest different approaches to eliminate this phenomenon.