Tobacco cessation counseling: pharmacists' opinions and practices

As a key interface between patients and the health-care community, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to promote tobacco cessation. The objectives of this study were to: (a) characterize pharmacists' past training and current activities in provision of tobacco interventions, attitudes toward assisting patients with quitting, and interest in receiving specialized training for tobacco cessation counseling; and (b) identify predictors of pharmacists' counseling for tobacco cessation.

A 10-page survey was mailed to all licensed pharmacists in four California counties.

Returned surveys (n = 1,168; 54.2% response) indicated that fewer than 8% of pharmacists have received formal training for tobacco cessation counseling, and current levels of counseling are low. Key predictors of cessation counseling include practice setting, pharmacists' race/ethnicity, perceived pros of counseling, and self-efficacy for counseling. Of 715 pharmacists who have direct patient contact, 93% indicated that receiving specialized tobacco cessation counseling training would increase their counseling quality, and 70% indicated that it would increase the number of patients counselled. Eighty-eight percent reported interest in receiving specialized training to obtain these skills.

Although few pharmacists have received formal training in tobacco cessation and counseling activities currently are low, there is substantial professional interest in further developing this role.

Provision of comprehensive training that focuses on promoting self-efficacy for counseling likely will increase pharmacists' tobacco cessation counseling activities.