Treatment-seeking Smokers Research Articles

Impact of the Ottawa model on opiate screening and smoking cessation in methadone-treated patients with opioid use disorder: A retrospective cohort analysis.

Approximately 60 million individuals worldwide used opioids in 2021, constituting 1.2% of the global adult population. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated treatment strategies for opioid use disorder and nicotine use disorder by assessing the impact of smoking cessation within a methadone treatment framework. In a retrospective cohort study, 53 methadone maintenance patients were divided into 16 treatment-seeking smokers (TSS) and 37 treatment-rejecting smokers (TRS) based on their participation in the Ottawa model for smoking cessation plus 16 weeks of varenicline treatment. Both groups received standard methadone treatment for 68 weeks. TSS were followed up for 44 weeks to assess smoking cessation outcomes, while TRS had none due to their lack of participation in smoking cessation treatment. The median age of the TSS group was 48 years, while that of the TRS group was 45.5 years. Males comprised 75% of TSS and 94.6% of the TRS. TSS exhibited an 83% decrease in positive opioid screen results compared to TRS (p=0.023). In TSS, peak smoking cessation success was observed at week 20, with 57% of participants maintaining carbon monoxide levels <5 ppm. The significant reduction in positive opioid screens and the high smoking cessation rate in the TSS group highlight the efficacy of combined treatment methods. This study underscores the advantages of integrating smoking cessation with methadone maintenance treatment, indicating that comprehensive approaches can substantially improve treatment outcomes.

Does Quitting Smoking Affect Depressive Symptoms? A Longitudinal Study Based on Treatment-Seeking Smokers with a History of Depressive Episode

AbstractThis study analyses changes in depressive symptomatology as a function of smoking status over time after a cognitive-behavioural intervention for smoking cessation among smokers with a history of depressive episode. The sample comprised 215 smokers with antecedents of depressive episode (Mage=45.03; 64.7% female). Depressive symptoms were assessed using BDI-II at baseline, end of intervention and at 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Depression was examined according to smoking status at 12-month follow-up: abstainers, relapsers and smokers. The linear mixed model showed a significant effect for time (F = 11.26, p &lt; .001) and for the interaction between smoking status and time (F = 9.11, p &lt; .001) in the variations in depression. Abstinent participants at 12 months experienced a reduction in depressive symptomatology. This change was significant when comparing abstainers to smokers and relapsers. The present study suggests an association between abstinence and reductions in depressive symptomatology for smokers with a history of depressive episode after an intervention for smoking cessation.

Comparable cigarette consumption data collected using timeline follow-back and digital diary among treatment-seeking smokers.

The timeline follow-back interview is a common method of collecting daily cigarette consumption (cigarettes per day [CPD]) in smoking research. However, it may be subject to recall bias due to its reliance on retrospective reports. The increasing ownership of smartphones allows researchers to administer app-based digital diaries (DD) to collect CPD, which is expected to have less recall bias. Several studies have compared these two methods and found a noticeable discrepancy between them. However, these studies have mainly focused on the time window when smokers were smoking ad libitum. In this study, we wanted to determine the comparability of these two methods when treatment-seeking smokers are attempting to quit smoking. In a cessation trial, treatment-seeking smokers (n = 251) reported their CPD using the timeline follow-back and DD methods over a 12-week treatment period. To evaluate the comparability, we used the Bland-Altman comparison approach for agreement, correlational analysis between CPD and biochemical measures, digit bias, and logistic regression for predicting abstinence. We found that the two methods exhibited good agreement, and the agreement did not vary as a function of consumption levels. Consistent with this agreement, CPD data from both methods showed similar correlations with biochemical measures of smoking and predicted 6-month abstinence in a comparable fashion. Despite the agreement, the DD method appeared to be more precise by having a lower digit bias than the timeline follow-back method. Capturing smoking behavior using either TLFB or DD approaches yields similar data while smokers are attempting to quit smoking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluation of effectiveness and acceptability of a psychological treatment for smoking cessation combined with a smartphone App: A pilot study

Despite the increasing number of mobile-based interventions to quit smoking over the last years, few studies have investigated the efficacy of smoking cessation interventions blended with smartphone Apps. The present pilot study aims to examine the preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of a cognitive-behavioral treatment combined with a smartphone App, compared to the same psychological treatment without the App. The sample comprised 206 treatment-seeking smokers, who were assigned to: 1) an experimental group receiving a cognitive-behavioral intervention combined with the “Non Fumo” App (n = 102), and 2) a control group receiving only the cognitive-behavioral intervention to quit smoking (n = 104). Results concerning the primary outcomes showed no significant differences between conditions in point-prevalence abstinence rates at 12-month follow-up (35.30 % in the experimental group vs. 31.70 % in the control group) and in treatment acceptability. Regarding the secondary outcomes, both groups obtained similar point-prevalence abstinence rates at the end of treatment (61.80 % vs. 65.40 %), at 3-month (42.20 % vs. 45.20 %, respectively) and 6-month follow-ups (37.30 % vs. 37.50 %). No significant differences were found between conditions in prolonged abstinence rates at 6-month (35.3 % vs. 35.6 %) and 12-month follow-ups (30.4 % vs. 26.9 %). Overall, good abstinence rates and treatment acceptability were obtained, although there were no significant differences between conditions. More research is needed to establish clear conclusions about the efficacy of psychological smoking cessation treatments blended with smartphone Apps.

Factors Associated With Abstinence Among Young Adult Smokers Enrolled in a Real-world Social Media Smoking Cessation Program.

Social media platforms are promising to provide smoking cessation support. This study aimed to identify baseline factors associated with cigarette smoking abstinence among young adult smokers enrolled in a real-world social media-based smoking cessation program. We analyzed data from young adult smokers (aged 18-30 years) participating in a publicly available Facebook-based smoking cessation program serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The analytic sample consisted of 248 participants who completed both the baseline and follow-up surveys at 3 months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis determined baseline factors significantly associated with self-reported 7-day cigarette smoking abstinence at 3 months. Participants were race/ethnically diverse, well-educated, and 47.6% reported LGB + sexual identity. Those who reported dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the past 30 days (vs. cigarette use only), current alcohol users (vs. non-users), and those aged 25-30 years (vs. 18-24 years) were significantly less likely to report 7-day abstinence at 3 months. Non-daily smokers (vs. daily smokers) and those with high desire to quit smoking (vs. low to moderate desire) were more likely to report abstinence. Results also showed reduction in the percentage of e-cigarette and other tobacco product use among participants. Social media interventions may be more effective for young adult non-daily smokers and those with high desire to quit smoking. Smoking cessation programs may help reduce use of other tobacco products among treatment-seeking smokers. Smoking cessation interventions for young adults need to explicitly address dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes and use of alcohol. Findings of this study highlight the need for future interventions to address dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes and use of alcohol to improve cigarette smoking abstinence outcomes. The reduction in the use of other tobacco products among program participants indicates that social media smoking cessation programs may exert a broader positive influence on overall tobacco consumption. The large number of LGB+ smokers participating in the program suggests social media is a promising cessation channel for this hard-to-reach group, warranting further study.

Serial mediation between self-efficacy and motivation as a mechanism of change in tobacco cessation: analysis of the Guided Self-Change therapy effectiveness

Background Behavioral interventions are effective for smoking cessation; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of treatment outcomes. Self-efficacy and motivation to quit are two central mediators of therapy success, however, their interaction during tobacco cessation remains unclear. The aims of this study were to analyze the effectiveness of Guided Self-Change (GSC) therapy for smoking cessation and to examine parallel and serial mediation between self-efficacy and motivation during therapy. Method We conducted a one-group pretest-posttest design with the participation of 145 treatment-seeking smokers (age = 55.8 ± 10.3 years; 59.3% women) from the General University Hospital of Alicante. We assessed participants’ daily tobacco use, self-efficacy, and motivation to quit at baseline and at the end of treatment. Descriptive, bivariate, and mediation analyses were performed. Results A total of 49% (n = 71) of participants completed GSC therapy (3–5 sessions), of which 52.1% (n = 37) stopped using tobacco after treatment (McNemar’s p < 0.001; θ = 5.85). Mediation analyses showed GSC therapy significantly increased (p < 0.01) both self-efficacy (a1=1.19; 95%CI = 0.47, 1.91) and motivation (a2=1.95; 95%CI = 1.34, 2.56). However, only the serial path from self-efficacy to motivation to quit showed significant indirect effects in tobacco reduction (a1a3b2=–0.29; 95%CI=–1.1, 0.03; Z=–4.36; p < 0.001). Conclusions GSC therapy demonstrated effectiveness in quitting smoking by partially increasing self-efficacy, which in turn enhanced motivation to quit leading to a reduction of use. These findings expand empirical knowledge about theorized mechanisms of change in addictive behaviors that could contribute to improving psychological interventions.

Supplemental Material for Comparable Cigarette Consumption Data Collected Using Timeline Follow-Back and Digital Diary Among Treatment-Seeking Smokers

Supplemental Material for Comparable Cigarette Consumption Data Collected Using Timeline Follow-Back and Digital Diary Among Treatment-Seeking Smokers

Effectiveness of the Brief Guided Self-Change Therapy Combined with Varenicline under “Real-Life” Conditions and Mediators for Smoking Cessation

Background : Brief therapies have proven to reduce tobacco cost-effectively, however, unsuccessful quit attempts remain notable in real-life conditions, and the underlying mechanisms of treatment success are still unclear. Objectives : We aimed to analyze the effectiveness of the Guided Self-Change (GSC) therapy combined with varenicline (VAR+T) in public health services against varenicline alone (VAR), and to identify mediators of treatment outcomes. We conducted a two-arm quasi-experimental study with 126 treatment-seeking smokers (age=57.3±9.1 years; 59.5% women). Before treatment, and at weeks 12 and 24, we assessed tobacco use and five potential mediators: withdrawal, craving, motivation to quit, anxiety, and depression. Results : Only 25% of participants adhered to varenicline prescription, and 54% to GSC therapy. VAR+T group showed a greater proportion of abstainers compared to VAR group at week 12 (75% vs 57.4%; φc=0.21) and week 24 (62.9% vs 52.5%; φc=0.10). When controlling for weeks taking varenicline, motivation showed a significant indirect effect over abstinence rates in VAR+T compared with VAR (a1b1=1.34; 95%CI=0.04, 5.03). Conclusions : The GSC effectiveness seems to increase motivation which in turn contributes to reducing tobacco use. The implementation of GSC therapy in public health services could minimize treatment duration and increase smoking abstinence in ‘real-life’ conditions where varenicline adherence remains low.

Exenatide as an adjunct to nicotine patch for smoking cessation and prevention of postcessation weight gain among treatment-seeking smokers with pre-diabetes and/or overweight: study protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial

IntroductionObesity and smoking are the two leading causes of preventable death in the USA. Unfortunately, most smokers gain weight after quitting. Postcessation weight gain (PCWG) is frequently cited as one...

Change in cardiovascular health among adults with current or past major depressive disorder enrolled in intensive smoking cessation treatment

BackgroundElevated depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking are independently associated with poorer cardiovascular health (CVH), but it is unknown whether their treatment can synergistically improve CVH. We sought to characterize CVH of adults with comorbid depression and smoking and examine changes in CVH associated with changes in smoking and depression. MethodsParticipants (N = 300, 55 % women) were adult smokers (≥ 1 cigarette/day) with lifetime major depressive disorder enrolled in a 12-week intervention trial targeting depression and smoking. Multiple linear regression examined prospective associations between changes in depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), smoking (past 24-hour cigarettes or smoking abstinence), and modified CVH score (per American Heart Association, excluding smoking: diet, physical activity, body mass index, blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure). ResultsBaseline mean CVH score was 5.87/12 points (SD = 2.13). No participants met “ideal” on all CVH components (blood glucose: 48 %, cholesterol: 46 %, physical activity: 38 %, body mass index: 24 %, blood pressure: 22 %, diet: 3 %). CVH scores did not change from baseline to end-of-treatment (M = 0.18 points, SD = 1.36, p = .177), nor did change in depression × smoking predict change in CVH (p = .978). However, greater reductions in depression were significantly associated with greater improvements in CVH (β = −0.04, SE = 0.01, p = .015). LimitationsThis study was limited by a short follow-up period, missing blood glucose and cholesterol data, and treatment-seeking smokers. ConclusionsAdults with comorbid depression and smoking had poor CVH. Although integrated treatment for depression and smoking improved both conditions, only reductions in depression were associated with improvements in CVH. These findings have implications for integrating psychosocial treatment into CVH promotion efforts. RegistrationNCT02378714 (clinicaltrials.gov).

Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Tobacco Urge Management Scale (TUMS).

During quit attempts, smokers must overcome smoking urges triggered by environmental cues and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This study investigates the psychometric properties of the 12-item Tobacco Urge Management Scale (TUMS), a new measure of smoking urge management behaviors. We analyzed secondary data (n = 327) from a behavioral smoking cessation intervention trial, Kids Safe and Smokefree (KiSS). Confirmatory factor analysis of the TUMS indicated that a one-factor model and a correlated two-factor model had similar model fit indices, and a Chi-square difference test supported the one-factor model. Further study of the parsimonious one-factor scale provided evidence of reliability and construct validity. Known group validity was evidenced by significantly higher TUMS scores in the KiSS intervention arm receiving urge management skills training than in the control arm (p < 0.001). Concurrent validity was evidenced by TUMS's inverse association with cigarettes smoked per day and positive associations with nonsmoking days, 7-day abstinence, and self-efficacy to control smoking behaviors (p's < 0.05). The TUMS is a reliable, valid measure of smoking urge management behaviors. The measure can support theory-driven research on smoking-specific coping mechanisms, inform clinical practice by identifying coping strategies that might be under-utilized in treatment-seeking smokers, and function as a measure of treatment adherence in cessation trials that target urge management behaviors.

377 Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial to Test the Efficacy of genetically informed biomarker Nicotine Metabolite Ratio (NMR), and transdermal nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) versus varenicline

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The overall aim of the proposed study is to evaluate the effectiveness and clinical utility of the NMR as a biomarker of response to placebo, transdermal nicotine, and varenicline to be utilized within the clinical practice as a point-of-care predictor to tailor an individual’s smoking cessation treatment. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A 12-week phase II, stratified multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 3 treatment groups to measure treatment-seeking smokers (n-900:150 slow metabolizers; 150 normal metabolizers), randomized to 12-weeks of nicotine patch (active patch + placebo pill), varenicline (active pill + placebo patch), or placebo (placebo pill + patch). At the end of treatment, patients will be followed for 12 months. Study Population: Adult smokers 18–65 years old reported smoking≥10 cigarettes/day for≥6 months (verified by carbon monoxide (CO) &gt;10 ppm). Drug and route of administration: RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The study would conclude the effectiveness of the interventions well defined. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The report will provide robust evidence to support the effectiveness of NRT intervention on smoking cessation.

Boredom Susceptibility and Quit Smoking: The Role of Anxiety Symptoms

Boredom is one of the main reported motives for smoking. However, scarce research has examined the relationship between boredom susceptibility and abstinence achievement in treatment-seeking smokers. The aim of this study is to examine the mediating effect of anxiety symptoms in the relationship between boredom susceptibility and abstinence at the end of a smoking cessation treatment. The sample was composed of 481 Spanish smokers who received a cognitive-behavioral treatment to quit (M age= 45.51, SD = 11.16; 60.6% female). The Boredom Susceptibility subscale of the Sensation Seeking Scale Form-V and the Beck Anxiety Inventory were used. Pearson correlations and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between the study variables. Boredom susceptibility was significantly and positively correlated to anxiety symptoms, but not to abstinence. Anxiety symptoms were significantly and negatively correlated to abstinence. A significant indirect effect of boredom susceptibility on abstinence at the end of treatment through anxiety symptoms was found. There was no direct relation between boredom susceptibility and abstinence. These findings extend previous literature by showing that higher boredom susceptibility is associated with less likelihood to be abstinent at the end of the treatment through higher anxiety symptoms. These results highlight the relevance of considering the inclusion of boredom and anxiety management techniques in smoking cessation interventions.

Cumulative vulnerabilities and smoking abstinence: A test from a randomized clinical trial

Smoking cessation is often associated with socioeconomic and intrapersonal vulnerabilities such as psychopathology. Yet, most research that focuses on predicting smoking cessation outcomes tends focus on a small number of possible vulnerabilities. In a secondary data analysis, we developed and empirically evaluated a comprehensive, cumulative vulnerability risk composite reflecting psychologically based transdiagnostic processes, social determinants of health, and psychopathology. Participants were adult smokers who responded to study advertisements (e.g., flyers, newspaper ads, radio announcements) for an in-person delivered 4-session smoking cessation trial (N = 267; 47% female; Mage = 39.4, SD = 13.8). Results indicated that the decline in point prevalence abstinence (PPA) from quit week to 6-month post-quit was statistically significant (p < .001). There were statistically significant effects of cumulative risk score on the intercept (p < .001) and slope (p = .01). These findings were evident in unadjusted and adjusted (controlling for sex, treatment condition, and nicotine dependence) models. The present results indicate smokers with greater cumulative vulnerability demonstrated poorer smoking cessation outcomes. There may be clinical advantages to better understanding cumulative vulnerability among treatment-seeking smokers and other smoking populations to enhance the impact of public health efforts to reduce smoking.

Perceived Stress and Smoking Cessation: The Role of Smoking Urges.

Despite the fact that perceived stress is related to abstinence smoking outcomes, no studies have investigated the mediational effect of specific tobacco-related variables on this relationship. This study aimed to explore the indirect effect of perceived stress on abstinence at the end of treatment through smoking urges. The sample comprised 260 treatment-seeking smokers (58.5% female; Mage = 46.00; SD = 11.1) who underwent psychological smoking cessation treatment. The brief version of the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS14) were used. Mediation analyses were conducted in which smoking urges and their dimensions were potential mediators in the relationship between perceived stress and abstinence at the end of treatment. The results showed a non-significant direct effect of perceived stress on abstinence. However, a significant indirect effect was found through smoking urges (QSU-total) and, specifically, through smoking urges associated with the expectation of negative affect relief (QSU-Factor 2). A non-significant indirect effect through smoking urges related to the expectation of tobacco use as a pleasurable experience (QSU-Factor 1) was also found. Analyzing possible mediator variables could contribute to understanding previous conflicting data. These findings point to potential interest in including treatment components targeting perceived stress and smoking urges to improve the effectiveness of smoking cessation treatments.

Potential predictors of smoking relapse in treatment-seeking smokers

Impulsive behavior problems are powerful predictors of addiction treatment outcomes. However, a comprehensive assessment of these features has not been examined in relation to smoking cessation outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the capacity of impulsive behavior to predict the risk of relapse and the number of relapses for smokers. The sample comprised 141 participants (Mage= 47.3, SD= 8.31; 59% females) in psychopharmacology treatment for dependence to nicotine. Participants provided breath carbon monoxide samples for determining smoking throughout the study. The different impulsiveness dimensions were evaluated with a Go/NoGo task, the visual search and attention test and a delayed discount task, while self-informed impulsivity was assessed with Barratt’s Impulsiveness Scale. Unplanned impulsivity, attention failures and performance in the Go/NoGo task are postulated among the individual factors related to the number of relapses. Our results contribute to the understanding of relapse components and enable the inference of assiduity by quantifying relapse.

Sustained reduction of attentional bias to smoking cues by smartphone-delivered attentional bias modification training for smokers.

Cigarette smoking is thought to be at least partially maintained by the attentional bias (AB) toward smoking cues that develops as a consequence of drug dependence. This study evaluated the impact of smartphone-delivered, in-home attentional bias modification (ABM) to reduce AB to smoking cues and to reduce smoking behavior and withdrawal-related symptoms when used as an adjunct to conventional smoking cessation treatment. Participants (N = 246) were treatment-seeking smokers who completed up to 13 days of either ABM designed to train attention away from smoking cues, using a modified dot-probe task, or sham training, followed by 8 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy and counseling. Outcomes measured at baseline, 1-day post-ABM training, and 8 weeks post-ABM training included AB to smoking images and words using the dot-probe and smoking Stroop tasks, respectively, along with cigarettes per day, craving, and smoking abstinence. We found that ABM training reduced AB to smoking stimuli on both the dot-probe task, ηp² = 0.056, 90% CI [0.024, 0.097], and the smoking Stroop task, ηp² = 0.017, 90% CI [0.002, 0.044], up to 8 weeks after ABM training when covarying for baseline response, but did not concurrently decrease smoking behavior or craving. Thirteen days of smartphone-delivered ABM training, as an adjunct to smoking cessation treatment, reduced AB to both modality-specific and cross-modality smoking cues but did not impact smoking-related behavior. While ABM can reduce AB to smoking cues across modalities, it is unclear whether it has therapeutic potential as an adjunct to conventional smoking cessation therapy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Neuroeconomic predictors of smoking cessation outcomes: A preliminary study of delay discounting in treatment-seeking adult smokers

Large proportions of smokers are unsuccessful in evidence-based smoking cessation treatment and identifying prognostic predictors may inform improvements in treatment. Steep discounting of delayed rewards (delay discounting) is a robust predictor of poor smoking cessation outcome, but the underlying neural predictors have not been investigated. Forty-one treatment-seeking adult smokers completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) delay discounting paradigm prior to initiating a 9-week smoking cessation treatment protocol. Behavioral performance significantly predicted treatment outcomes (verified 7-day abstinence, n = 18; relapse, n = 23). Participants in the relapse group exhibited smaller area under the curve (d = 1.10) and smaller AUC was correlated with fewer days to smoking relapse (r = 0.56, p < 0.001) Neural correlates of discounting included medial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate, precuneus and anterior insula, and interactions between choice type and relapse status were present for the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, precuneus and the striatum. This initial investigation implicates differential neural activity in regions associated with frontal executive and default mode activity, as well as motivational circuits. Larger samples are needed to improve the resolution in identifying the neural underpinnings linking steep delay discounting to smoking cessation.

An examination of the effects of distress intolerance and rating of perceived exertion on changes in mood and anxiety following aerobic exercise among treatment-seeking smokers

ABSTRACT Aerobic exercise is frequently used as an intervention for depression and smoking cessation because of its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. Distress intolerance (DI) is a proposed individual difference factor that, coupled with a higher rating of perceived exertion during exercise, may significantly impact the acute mood and anxiolytic effects of exercise. The current study examined the interactive effect of maximum rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and DI on change in mood and anxiety. Treatment-seeking smokers (M age = 45.32; 72% female) with elevated depressive symptoms completed a 1-mile treadmill walk at their preferred intensity and self-reported their RPE during the test. Analyses were conducted to examine whether there was an interactive effect of maximum RPE and DI on change in self-reported mood and anxiety from before to after the walk test. Findings indicate a significant moderating effect of RPE at lower ratings. Individuals reporting a low maximum RPE and higher DI exhibit a greater change in mood over the course of an exercise session, whereas individuals reporting a low maximum RPE and a lower DI exhibit smaller changes in mood. These results indicate that the subjective effects of exercise within a population of cigarette smokers could be improved by tailoring exercise intensity to individual characteristics. Mild to moderate-intensity exercise, as compared to high-intensity exercise, may result in greater changes in mood for individuals endorsing difficulty tolerating affective and physical distress.

Exploring the quality of smoking cessation in community pharmacies: A simulated patient study.

The prevalence of cigarette smoking continues to be a major public health problem In the United Arab Emirates (UAE); the government has recently implemented policies to reduce smoking prevalence. Innovative strategies to support cessation are needed. Community pharmacies are vital venues to extend the reach and effectiveness of smoking cessation support. To evaluate the quality of community pharmacist smoking cessation counseling in the UAE. A cross-sectional, simulated patient (SP) study was conducted among N=111 urban community pharmacies selected at random in Sharjah city. Two scenarios were developed to cover different types of cessation needs of treatment-seeking smokers and where pharmacists could have a major role in assisting with smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. The quality of pharmacist counseling was defined in terms of comprehensiveness and communication skills. Two formal assessment tools were used; an analytical checklist to assess the comprehensiveness of pharmacists smoking cessation counseling, and a global assessment form to evaluate communication skills. A descriptive analysis of the data was undertaken. A total of 101 pharmacists participated in the study. Pharmacist assessment of smoking cessation-specific information and provision of counseling were minimal. Pharmacists most frequently assessed nicotine dependence and provided generic guidance on the use of nicotine replacement products (NRTs) to manage withdrawal, but they largely did not obtain relevant histories (e.g., medical/medication histories, previous quit attempts, smoking triggers), explain individualized management strategies (e.g., setting quit date, changing environment, reassurance and encouragement), or provide advice about ongoing support. Pharmacists attained low scores in verbal and nonverbal communication and were frequently unempathetic and judgmental towards female SPs. Pharmacist-led smoking cessation programs can expand primary care-based cessation opportunities in the UAE and address the demand for cessation services. Pharmacists will benefit from additional training on the provision of smoking cessation interventions, with an emphasis on patient-centered communication skills.