Effect of a pharmacist managed smoking cessation clinic on quit rates

Abstract

Objective:The purpose of this study was to quantify quit rates, determine factors predicting success, and analyze patients’ perceptions at 3 months after participation in the pharmacist-managed Smoking Cessation Group Clinic.Methods:This was a prospective, single group study that was conducted in patients that had participated in the Smoking Cessation Group Clinic at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Clinic participants received structured group counseling covering various topics associated with cessation. Varenicline, bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy were used as smoking cessation aids and selection was based on patient preference and absence of contraindications. The primary outcome of this trial was smoking status at 3 months. The patients were contacted by telephone at 3, and 6 months after the start of the clinic and asked about current smoking status. At 3 months, patients were asked to rate on a Likert scale of 1 to 5 (1=not helpful; 5=very helpful) their perceptions of individual aspects of the clinic and on a scale of 1 to 10 (1=not helpful; 10=very helpful) how they perceived their cessation aid.Results:From February 2007 to January 2008, 21 patients enrolled in the intent-to-treat follow up study. Analysis of data was completed in August 2008. At 3 and 6 months, 47.6% and 52.4%, of patients reported being smoke-free, respectively. At 3 months, factors consistent with success included having more previous quit attempts and type of cessation aid used. These endpoints continued to be significant at 6 months, in addition to attending more clinic sessions, and type of insurance (favoring private insurance). Patients who quit smoking rated their cessation aid as more helpful than those who did not quit smoking (8.56; SD=0.88 verses 6.71; SD=2.81, respectively; p=0.14). The aspect of the clinic most helpful to patients was group interaction (4.53; SD=0.77).Conclusion:This study demonstrates that pharmacists can play a vital role with smoking cessation in a group setting. Group setting patient counseling can be an effective tool for pharmacists to reach more people within the same time frame as individual counseling.

A 4-year Follow-up Evaluation Of A Pharmacist-managed Smoking Cessation Programme With Emphasis On Effectiveness Of Different Treatment Modalities

“…While most of the studies showed a decrease in abstinence rate over time [11][12][13][14][15] , our study demonstrated a significant increase (P<0.05) in abstinence rate from clinic completion (19.8%) to both 6-(23.8%) and 12-month (25.4%) followup. This is consistent with the results found by Philbrick and colleagues who reported an increase in abstinence rate from 47.6% to 52.4% at 3 and 6 months respectively 16 and also the pilot study performed in CGH previously 7 . The exact reasons contributing to the inconsistencies in results are not clear due to the differences in study designs.…”

“…A meta-analysis suggested that the number of counselling sessions and treatment effectiveness is associated in a doseresponse relationship 17 . This is supported by other studies which found significant increase in abstinence rate in patients who have attended more number of sessions (P<0.05) 8,16 . Hence, we could consider initiatives to improve the turn up rate of patients as slightly more than half of the patients in this study only attended one counselling session.…”

“…This was then followed by abstinence rate of 18.6% which was achieved 12 months after treatment with single NRT. This result deviates from published clinical trials which demonstrated NRT to be more effective than placebo 16,17,21 . However, this is consistent with findings obtained by Zow and colleagues whereby the abstinence rates achieved with counselling alone at all time points were higher than those achieved with single NRT 8 .…”

Treatment Outcome Assessment of the Pharmacist-Managed Quit Smoking Clinic in Malaysia

“…This contradicted the Russell Standard (SRNT Subcommittee on Biochemical Verification, 2002) that stipulated further biochemical verification in addition to the self-reported smoking status is required. However, several studies have supported that self-verification is sufficiently valid in ascertaining smoking status (Alberg et al, 2004;Attebring, Herlitz, Berndt, Karlsson, & Hjalmarson, 2001;Philbrick et al, 2009).…”

“…Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to simultaneously provide both smoking cessation services and SCAs to a smoker who wants to quit. A large body of research has been published, which provides evidence that pharmacists see themselves as playing a role in providing cessation support for smokers (Dent, Harris, & Noonan, 2007Dent, Scott, & Lewis, 2004;Kennedy, Giles, Chang, Small, & Edwards, 2002;Maguire, McElnay, & Drummond, 2001;Philbrick, Newkirk, Farris, McDanel, & Horner, 2009;Ragucci & Shrader, 2009;Roth & Westman, 2001;Zillich, Ryan, Adams, Yeager, & Farris, 2002). Increasing the utilisation of pharmacists in smoking cessation activities may have a positive impact on increasing quit smoking rates at population level.…”