LSC 2533 Research Methods
Research Proposal (CLO 1)
Research Proposal title:
Measuring the Medwakh/Dokhan smoking trends in Abu Dhabi Men’s College.
Introduction
The
U.A.E has witnessed an increase in the number of shops which sell smoking products,
whether it is the conventional cigarette, cigar, Sheesha (also known as
hookah). However, there has been an additional entry of medwakh and dokha which
are considered to be a much popular choice when it comes to smoking by the
younger generation, this typically applies to men who are carrying their
smoking pipes almost everywhere they go. Whilst there has been strict laws
along with strategies implemented by the U.A.E health authorities cutting down
on smoking, the traditional windpipe ‘medwakh’ has made a revolutionary return
since it is considered far more appealing to this target market. The purpose of
this research proposal is to conduct a research on the smoking trends of
medwakh/ dokha at the Abu Dhabi Men’s College (HCT). The target market are
students at the Abu Dhabi Men’s College. One of the primary reasons for
conducting research is due to the fact there are increasing number of
youngsters who are getting addicted to the new age smoking wind pipe. With the
dependency on smoking, this raises eyebrows for the health authorities in the
U.A.E and for smokers since they are putting themselves at a greater risk that
could destroy their health. The purpose
of this research is to create an awareness of the necessary steps or measures
that need to be taken to discourage the Emarati students to stop and even cut
down on smoking the windpipe. I believe this topic is important to students
because they need to understand the risks and health problems associated with
smoking, especially in the U.A.E where smoking medwakh/dokha is seen to be a
symbol of status and style. This report will conclude with a proposal for
research within the Higher Colleges of Technology.
Background
(1)
Smoking trends of medwakh/dokha in U.A.E: Nazzal
(2012) pointed out a strange finding relating to the way medwakh/dokha was seen
to be a popular choice not typically just by the male smokers, but even female
smokers, however the quantity of female smokers could not easily be measured
due to the stigma and lack of social acceptance of them smoking in public. One
female smoker explained she smoked nearly four to five times a day when she was
in Turkey. She would smoke in private and found it very difficult to quit when
she tried to quit she ended up smoking cigarettes instead. Such form of addiction
to smoking shows that the younger smokers are more prone to not give up, since
as she explains this was seen as a ‘cool thing’. Furthermore, when referring to
the adults in the GCC region, one could observe the point prevalence of active
cigarette smoking was noted at 24% in men, whereas <1% in women as per the
biggest surveys of adult tobacco use in
U.A.E. Interestingly, the survey also highlighted that 82% of students first
made an attempt to smoke a cigarette when they were 14 years old (Midwakh/Dokha
tobacco use in the Middle East: much to learn, 2013)
(2)
Reasons for the increase in smoking
medwakh/dokhan: The fact tobacco oriented products are cheap and easily
available makes it attractive for smokers to have a variety to choose from when
it comes to purchasing medwakh/dokha. The younger generation, predominantly
teenagers feels allured to smoking dokha since they find it less dangerous to
their health. Unfortunately, there is no control over the consumption of dokha
in the U.A.E which is considered to be one of the leading contributing factors
in the increase of dokha’s consumption. This clearly illustrates the control
policies in U.A.E need to work very hard on implementing strict measures to
control the product before the situation simply deteriorates (Zain, 2014)
(3)
Health problems and risks associated: The
majority of university students who are smoking dokha tend to be aware of the
fact it is an unhealthy habit, however they tend to state they feel they are
healthy as pointed out in the student led research conducted by a student at
the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUD) (Student-led research lends clarity on
dokha blaze, 2015)
Proposal
for research
The research topic of measuring the smoking
trends of medwakh/dokha is considered highly significant for the United Arab
Emirates since the country is very specific about maintaining a healthy
environment and is keen on having healthy citizens and population as a whole.
Justification:
If
we look at the prevalence of smoking tobacco oriented products, Bell (2013)
explains one in five teenage boys in UAE smokes as outlined by a research
study. The shocking facts pertain to boys aged 13 to 15 being a smoker which
raises eyebrows for health specialists, parents and the community and the need
to take effective measures to discourage them from smoking, especially from
such a young age. This research becomes a dire requirement and understanding
the root causes of encouraging teenagers and our target market that makes them
purchase tobacco products.
Furthermore, this topic is specifically of
great relevance and importance to the students who are attending HCT since they
should be able to make the needful changes to their lifestyle and have a
healthy lifestyle instead of depending on smoking medwakh/dokha or smoking as a
whole since the adverse outcomes are definitely disastrous for one’s health.
The purpose of conducting this research within the premises of HCT is to create
an awareness amongst students and faculty, respectively where they can pay
attention to such an important topic that relates to their everyday life
choices, in this case smoking.
I believe my own research conducted at the
college will help in answering the aforementioned questions. In order to
accomplish this, I will work on developing an interesting questionnaire for
students who are attending Abu Dhabi Men’s College. The questions will be
designed in a way that ask them about their smoking habits, the consumption
frequency and the amount of money they spend on maintaining this smoking habit.
Furthermore, the findings will help me in forwarding the project for a possible
consideration in implementing strict control policies that will discourage the
concept of smoking medwakh/dokha. Overall the objective of this project is to
raise awareness and discourage the rapid trend of smoking, which is undoubtedly
injurious to our health, especially to the younger generation who are
mistakenly associating it with a lifestyle symbol thing or think it is okay to
smoke due to social pressure or act cool by doing so which clearly is not the
case.
Al
Zain, Asma. 'Youngsters Turn To‘High’ Risk Smoking In UAE - Khaleej Times'. Khaleejtimes.com.
N.p., 2015. Web. 12 Oct. 2015.
Bell, Jennifer. 'One In Five
Teenage Boys In UAE Smokes, Report Finds | The National'. The National
Newspaper. N.p., 2013. Web. 4 Oct. 2015.
Nazzal, Noor. 'Medwakh Bucks
Anti-Smoking Trend In The UAE'. Gulf News. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Sept.
2015.
Vupputuri, S et al.
'Midwakh/Dokha Tobacco Use In The Middle East: Much To Learn'. Tobacco
Control. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Sept. 2015.
Yahoo Maktoob News,.
'Student-Led Research Lends Clarity On Dokha Haze'. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Sept.
2015.
Yahoo Maktoob News,.
'Youngsters Turn To‘High’ Risk Smoking In UAE'. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Sept. 2015.
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