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Abstract

A random sample of Pharmacists in Indiana was selected and surveyed regarding their thoughts and comments on the sale of tobacco and alcoholic products by pharmacies. A total of 212 pharmacists provided written responses to an open-ended question. The replies were then synthesized into major themes. The majority of comments categorized revealed strong opposition to pharmacies selling tobacco and alcohol products. The most frequently occurring message regarding the sale of these products by pharmacies was that it goes against the pharmacist's role as a professional health care provider and may harm their image. For some pharmacists, this issue posed a moral dilemma between caring for patient safety and the economic incentives provided by the sale of tobacco and alcohol. Based on these findings, a follow-up phone survey was conducted to solicit suggestions from pharmacists on how to advocate against the sale of tobacco and alcohol by pharmacies. The majority of pharmacists strongly recommended that they need to do more among themselves and within their store environment, rather than have regulations imposed on pharmacies when it comes to limiting the sale of these products.

Tobacco sales in pharmacies: a survey of attitudes, knowledge and beliefs of pharmacists employed in student experiential and other worksites in Western New York

“…It may be the modesty of income, but is more likely the inconsistency of the pharmacist’s ethical code regarding tobacco merchandising that overwhelming majorities of both preceptor and supervising pharmacists voice agreement with the establishment of laws banning pharmacy tobacco sales. Other studies have shown this [13-16]. …”

“…The differences in the response rates between the preceptor and supervising pharmacist survey may potentially be reflective of these challenges with each survey administration method. Although we do not have information regarding the demographic characteristics of non-responders for this survey, characteristics of our final sample members are relatively similar to other studies conducted amongst pharmacists in the U.S. regarding similar subject matter [13,15,16]. This survey was conducted in a single geographic location, so these results may not pertain to pharmacists in other regions, and this should be considered when interpreting these findings.…”

“…Most U.S. pharmacists oppose the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies [13-16]. Nonetheless, many pharmacies in the United States still sell tobacco products, and polls of pharmacists and pharmacy students show that these groups feel that selling tobacco products in pharmacies violates their personal and professional values [14,17].…”

“…The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) advocates that pharmacists should become involved in smoking cessation counseling and include patients’ tobacco usage in patient profiles [22]. Although a large percentage of pharmacists are opposed to the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies, and pharmacy organizations have spoken out against this practice, studies still show that, in some areas, more than half of pharmacies sell tobacco products [13,14,16-18]. As students are taught about smoking cessation counseling and the importance of this practice in pharmacies, the contradiction of tobacco sales in pharmacies is becoming more apparent.…”

Attitudes Toward Prohibiting Tobacco Sales in Pharmacy Stores Among U.S. Adults

“…1 This is an established concern among pharmacists, whose professional obligation is to promote their patients’ health. 2–4 …”