The Need for Nationwide Electronic Cigarette Smoking Cessation Curricula Across the Healthcare Spectrum

Abstract

Using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has become a stepping stone for smokers in their cessation of tobacco use. Students within Doctor of Pharmacy and other health care programs have expressed varying responses as to how likely they are to recommend ENDS based on their knowledge of these devices. Because the amount of education on these products provided by PharmD programs varies, one study shows student pharmacists were less likely to recommend the use of ENDS to current cigarette smokers. This commentary suggests why some student pharmacists support such recommendations and therefore require more adequate ENDS education to better equip themselves for future patient education counseling sessions.