Feasibility of Brief Smoking Cessation Intervention in Community Pharmacies

Abstract

Cigarette smoking, the leading known cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States, is a contributory factor in the deaths of more than 400,000 adults annually.1 Tobacco cessation is associated with immediate and long-term health benefits.2 The U.S. Public Health Service published clinical guidelines in 2000 recommending that all health care providers offer tobacco cessation counseling to patients, noting that even brief interventions are effective.3 Community pharmacists are easily accessible and have brief, regular contacts with patients. Pharmacists believe tobacco cessation counseling is important, yet fewer than 30% always or frequently ask patients about tobacco use. Lack of time, inadequate training, and inability to identify smokers are among the barriers that deter pharmacists from discussing this topic with patients.4–6 Clinic and hospital-based pharmacists have been somewhat effective in helping patients with tobacco cessation.7–13 While evidence is limited, community pharmacy personnel may be effective in decreasing smoking cessation rates, given adequate training, motivation, support, and demand.14 However, no reported study has examined the implementation of brief counseling interventions in community pharmacies.