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Community pharmacy personnel interventions for smoking cessation
H K Sinclair1, C M Bond, L F Stead
1Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill Health Centre, Westburn Road, Aberdeen, UK, AB25 2AY.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|February 20, 2004
Summary
Community pharmacists can help people quit smoking. Trained pharmacists offering counseling and support showed a positive effect on smoking cessation rates in a limited review of two studies.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Practice
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Community pharmacists play a key role in public health initiatives.
- They are positioned to advise on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and provide behavioral support for smoking cessation.
- This review focuses on the effectiveness of these interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of interventions delivered by community pharmacy personnel to aid clients in smoking cessation.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group database was conducted for studies in community pharmacies up to March 2003.
- Included were randomized trials comparing community pharmacy interventions with usual care or less intensive programs.
- The primary outcome was smoking cessation at six months or longer; data synthesis was narrative due to study heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- Two randomized trials involving 976 smokers were identified, both conducted in the UK.
- Interventions included training based on the Stages of Change Model, counseling, and record keeping, with high NRT use in both groups.
- One study reported significantly higher self-reported cessation rates (14.3% vs. 2.7%, p < 0.001) at 12 months; the other showed a positive trend (12.0% vs. 7.4%, p = 0.09) at nine months.
Conclusions:
- Trained community pharmacists delivering structured support programs may positively impact smoking cessation.
- The evidence is limited due to the small number of studies and only one showing a statistically significant effect.
- Further research is needed to confirm the efficacy of community pharmacy-based smoking cessation interventions.