Smoking cessation and the pharmacy: What are the issues that need to be addressed before implementation of an intensive pharmacy based smoking cessation program? pharmacists and parmacy assistant perspective

Sarah Kissiwaa, Maree Simpson, Deborah L. Burton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Aim: To elicit information on smoking cessation from pharmacists and
pharmacy assistants, and to use this information to identify issues or factors that may need to be considered before the implementation of a pharmacy based smoking cessation program.
Method: Role specific surveys were distributed to pharmacists and pharmacy assistants.
Results: Ninety percent of pharmacists surveyed believe that pharmacists have the potential to help people quit smoking and 84.8% are willing to take a more active role in smoking cessation. Lack of time (59.1%) was the most commonly identified barrier to becoming more actively involved in smoking cessation. Of the pharmacy assistants surveyed 87% believed they needed more training on smoking cessation guidelines.
Conclusion: There a number of factors that need to be addressed before the implementation of a pharmacy based smoking cessation program. Promotion of the pharmacy as an avenue for smoking cessation intervention is needed. In order to do this pharmacist must enhance their knowledge of smoking cessation recommendations. Pharmacy assistants have the potential to play a key role in a pharmacy based smoking cessation program. Pharmacy assistants can be used to
overcome the time issues identified by pharmacists. However pharmacy
assistants must first be properly trained on smoking cessation
recommendations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)112-117
Number of pages6
JournalInnovative Journal of Medical and Health Science
Volume2
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2012

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