Costs and effects associated with a community pharmacy-based smoking-cessation programme

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Pharmacoeconomics

Background:

• Smoking cessation programmes are crucial for public health.
• Community pharmacies offer accessible healthcare interventions.
• Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation is vital for resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the costs and effects of a community pharmacy-based smoking cessation programme in Northern Ireland.
• To analyse the cost-effectiveness from a payer's perspective.
• To assess the Pharmacists Action on Smoking (PAS) model for smoking cessation.

Main Methods:

• Utilised data from a pilot study in 2 community pharmacies in Northern Ireland.
• Employed the Pharmacists Action on Smoking (PAS) model, a 4-stage counselling programme.
• Conducted baseline and sensitivity analyses, varying assumptions on cessation and relapse rates.

Main Results:

• The cost per life-year saved ranged from £181.35 to £772.12, varying by gender and age.
• The PAS programme demonstrated favourable cost-effectiveness compared to other disease prevention interventions.
• A statistically significant difference in cessation rates was observed between intervention and control groups (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• The PAS model is a cost-effective smoking cessation intervention suitable for community pharmacies.
• Findings support the adoption and remuneration of the PAS model within primary healthcare.
• Community pharmacy-based programmes can be a valuable component of public health strategies.