Hooked on Shisha: A 5-Year Study on Oral Health Risks and Awareness Campaigns in Leicester

Shisha smoking, also known as waterpipe or hookah smoking, has become increasingly popular among young adults, with significant implications for oral health. This study investigates the effects of shisha smoking on oral health and evaluates the impact of a targeted oral health promotion campaign in Leicester, East Midlands, initiated in 2019. The campaign included large posters displayed in a dental practice and small flyers distributed at oral health promotion events and regularly to patients during their dental visits. A total of 30 young individuals were interviewed annually over a five-year period to assess changes in awareness and attitudes towards shisha smoking, with particular attention to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on shisha habits. The study findings underscore the effectiveness of the campaign in raising awareness but reveal limited success in influencing behavioural change.