Evaluation of the "future non-smokers" campaign of the Swiss Society of Pharmacists

Abstract

In order to promote low threshold smoking cessation, a campaign was organized by the Swiss Society of Pharmacists in 616 Swiss pharmacies. The evaluation of this project took into consideration the actual smoking cessation counselling and the attitudes towards the campaign and tobacco prevention of the person responsible for the campaign in the pharmacy. Consultations with smokers were documented in activity statistics one week before and throughout the six weeks of the campaign. The attitude was assessed by a standardized questionnaire. 32% of the participating pharmacies completed activity statistics, 58% participated in the attitude survey. Frequency of counselling was best predicted by the customer pattern of pharmacies. The highest frequency was observed among pharmacies with a majority of non regular customers. Intensity of counselling was best predicted by the extent of preliminary training of the pharmacy personnel. The most positive view towards tobacco prevention and the highest degree of interest in a future campaign were shown by the campaign responsibilities of pharmacies characterized with both frequent and intensive counselling activity. The results of this study show that pharmacies can play a role in offering low threshold smoking cessation programs. Major pre-requisites for this are motivation with regard to prevention, as well as continuing education of pharmacists and the pharmacy personnel.