Smoking cessation in community pharmacy practice–a clinical information needs analysis

Abstract

BackgroundWith the emerging role of pharmacists in implementing smoking cessation services and the recent evidence about smoking cessation pharmacotherapies, a needs analysis to assess baseline knowledge about current smoking cessation practice is needed; hence, training and development in this area can target possible ‘gaps’.ObjectiveThis study aimed at exploring pharmacy students’ knowledge about and attitudes toward smoking cessation, as compared to practicing community pharmacists and smoking cessation educators. The overall objective was to uncover underlying ‘gaps’ in pharmacy-based smoking cessation practice, particularly clinical gaps.SettingFinal-year pharmacy students at the University of Sydney, practicing community pharmacists and smoking cessation educators in Australia.MethodAs no previous standard pharmacist-focused smoking cessation knowledge questionnaires exist, a review of the literature informed the development of such a questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered to a cohort of fourth-year pharmacy students at the University of Sydney, practicing pharmacists and smoking cessation educators. Data analysis was performed using Predictive Analytics SoftWare (PASW® Statistics 18). Mean total scores, independent t-tests, analysis of variances and exploratory factor analysis were performed.Main outcome measureTo determine areas of major clinical deficits about current evidence related to smoking cessation interventions at the pharmacy level.ResultsResponses from 250 students, 51 pharmacists and 20 educators were obtained. Smoking educators scored significantly higher than pharmacists and students (P < .05), while score differences in the latter two groups were not statistically significant (P > .05). All groups scored high on ‘general’ knowledge questions as compared to specialised pharmacologic and pharmacotherapeutic questions. All respondents demonstrated positive attitudes toward the implications of smoking cessation. Factor analysis of the 24-item knowledge section extracted 12 items loading on 5 factors accounting for 53% of the total variance.ConclusionsThe results provide a valid indication of ‘gaps’ in the practice of up-to-date smoking cessation services among Australian pharmacy professionals, particularly in clinical expertise areas involving assessment of nicotine dependence and indications, dosages, adverse effects, contraindications, drug interactions and combinations of available pharmacotherapies. These gaps should be addressed, and the results should inform the design, implementation and evaluation of a pharmacy-based educational training program targeting current clinical issues in smoking cessation.

Early experience with a health promotion course for pharmacy students in Indonesia

“…To date, pharmacy education has focused on micro-level activities such as medicines management and prescribing advice, rather than on wider health promotion matters such as health inequalities in the community (Anderson, 2007). To enhance the competency and skills of future pharmacists, it is important that health promotion be incorporated into the core pharmacy curriculum (Saba et al, 2013).…”

A Workshop on Smoking Cessation for Pharmacy Students

“…The previously constructed and psychometrically tested SCIP questionnaire was used for the assessment. 15 Students were asked to individually complete and hand in the questionnaire without seeking help from each other or referring to any related resources or notes they had.…”

“…15 The questionnaire was divided into 4 sections. Section I included 12 yes/no and shortanswer questions covering basic demographic information and general data about the participants' history in smoking-cessation training, if applicable.…”

“…15 The needs analysis results provided the impetus to include comprehensive smoking-cessation training in the curricular revisions that the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney undertook between 2008 and 2011. The primary goal of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate a targeted educational activity on smoking cessation with final-year undergraduate pharmacy students.…”

Toward pharmacy-based smoking cessation services in Nigeria: Knowledge, perception and practice of community pharmacists

“…The questionnaire was developed by the investigators following an extensive review of relevant literature [25][26][27] . The review provided an insight to facilitate the development of the questionnaire.…”