[Communication on smoking in community pharmacy. Results of a survey in Belgium]

For several reasons the community pharmacist plays an important role in smoking cessation. In order to know how he is fulfilling this role, a survey was conducted among Belgian community pharmacists on smoking cessation communication in their pharmacy. The pharmacists and the pharmacy personnel were invited to answer an online questionnaire. In community pharmacy the patient is quite often asked if he smokes, however there still remain some obstacles to talk with the patient about smoking behaviour. The major obstacles are lack of time and the fear of a conflict with the patient. The results of the survey reveal that pharmacists and their assistants have a good knowledge of smoking cessation, but there is still some room to improve. In order to improve the smoking cessation support by pharmacists and their assistants, some efforts are necessary to overcome the obstacles. It would also be useful to organise more courses of tabacology at the faculties of pharmacy of the universities and in the continuing education programs for pharmacists.