Results of Smoking Cessation Clinic in Community Pharmacy Practice

Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association

A community-pharmacist-managed smoking cessation clinic achieved better results than other types of smoking cessation programs leading researchers to conclude that this type of approach to smoking cessation is both cost effective and successful. Method The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy trained 15 community pharmacists in seven mass-market pharmacies in Virginia to manage a smoking cessation clinic. A primary tool was a manual created by the VCU faculty. The program admitted 48 smokers who expressed an interest in quitting. The patients were monitored for one year. Descriptive statistics were used to describe patient demographics and smoking cessation rates. Nominal data were evaluated using the chi-square and Fisher exact tests, and continuous data were evaluated using Student two-tailed tests for paired data. Results Twelve patients (25%) abstained from smoking cigarettes for 12 months or more beyond their predetermined quit date. Abstinence rates at 1, 3, and 6 months were 43.8%, 31.3%, and 25%. Six- and 12-month cessation rates were the same. In addition, women were nearly five times more successful than men (33.3% vs. 6.7%, respectively; P = 0.47) at achieving long-term smoking cessation. Discussion A 1994 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that between 2.5% and 7.5% of smokers maintained long-term abstinence after an attempt to quit smoking. That, in conjunction with the health burden and economic impact of smoking, makes this approach worthy of further consideration. J Am Pharm Assoc, 2002; 42:51-6. Return to Top