Community pharmacy and smoking cessation training in behavioural change

• Main Author: Sinclair, Hazel Kathryn
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Aberdeen 1997

Aim: To develop and evaluate a training package for community pharmacy personnel to improve the counselling in smoking cessation provided in community pharmacies. Method: A training in smoking cessation counselling, based on the stage of change model, was developed. A randomised controlled trail was used to evaluate the training; additionally, interviews were used to gain an in depth insight into the pharmacy support process. All 76 non-city community pharmacies registered in Grampian were invited to participate. All intervention personnel were invited to attend the training. The effect of the training on the participants' knowledge and attitudes was assessed by questionnaire at zero, two and 12 months. Both groups recruited customers over a 12-month period. The effectiveness of the training was assessed by comparing the smoking cessation rates of the two groups at one, four and nine months. Results: 62 pharmacies (82%) were recruited. The training was well received by the 94 participants (40 pharmacists, 54 assistances). At both two and 12 months the intervention pharmacy teams were more knowledgeable (2 months: p=0.00001; 12 months: p=0.00001), self-confident (2 moths: p=0.046; 12 months: p=-0.026) and positive about the outcome of pharmacy counselling (2 months: p=0.022; 12 months: p=0.069) than the controls. 492 customers (224 intervention, 268 controls) were recruited. Assuming non-responders had lapsed, significantly more intervention subjects were not smoking at each follow up. The one-month point prevalence was 37% intervention and 29% controls (p=0.059); four months' continuous abstinence was achieved by 20% intervention and 13% controls (p=0.021); and nine months' continuous abstinence by 12% intervention and 7% controls (p=0.089). Conclusions: The intervention was associated with greater knowledge and confidence, increased and more useful counselling and higher smoking cessation rates, demonstrating that appropriately trained community pharmacy personnel have the potential to make a significant contribution to national smoking cessation targets.