Stakeholder feedback regarding a statewide protocol for pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation medications

Smoking contributes to negative clinical and economic outcomes in the United States, yet most adults who smoke and report wanting to quit do not access counseling or use medications to assist cessation. In rural states, such as Kansas, access to evidence-based tobacco treatment is more challenging, and most quit attempts go unassisted. Although legislation introducing a statewide policy for pharmacists to prescribe all FDA-approved tobacco cessation medications has been implemented in other states, it is unknown if such legislation would be supported in Kansas.

The objective of this study was to characterize stakeholder perceptions of model language for a statewide policy permitting pharmacists to prescribe medications for tobacco cessation in Kansas.

A cross-sectional survey was administered to tobacco control stakeholders, who were asked to review the Indiana Statewide Protocol for Dispensing Tobacco Cessation Products by Pharmacists and provide feedback on each section, via a web-based survey. Associations, insurance carriers, governmental entities, and community pharmacies were approached for recruitment. Collected data were analyzed to identify sections receiving support and to summarize feedback for recommendations to modify the protocol language.

Fifteen surveys (34 %) were completed, representing various stakeholder organizations and community pharmacies in Kansas. Sections receiving the most feedback include the introduction, purpose, pharmacist qualifications, products covered, health screening, and referral of high-risk patients.

Findings suggest that most tobacco control stakeholders in Kansas will be supportive of a statewide protocol for pharmacists to independently prescribe tobacco cessation products. Sections will be modified, based on respondents' feedback, to create a revised protocol that will be mutually acceptable to all stakeholders.