Journal article
Community pharmacists' counseling regarding nicotine replacement therapy: A secret shopper study
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, Vol.63(2), pp.574-581.e3
12/01/2022
DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2022.11.016
PMID: 36549932
Abstract
BACKGROUNDNicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a safe and effective non-prescription tobacco cessation treatment. While most community-based pharmacists periodically provide patient education regarding NRT, there is a gap in real-world evidence assessing the counseling provided. OBJECTIVESTo assess community pharmacist counseling regarding NRT in a real-world setting. METHODSA cross-sectional secret shopper audit was conducted to collect data regarding NRT counseling from 120 community pharmacist encounters. Seventeen trained college of pharmacy students presented to community pharmacies using a standardized script asking about 1 of 3 common NRT products (patch, gum, and lozenge). Pharmacies were randomly selected from a list of all community pharmacies open to the public in Bexar County, Texas. A standardized assessment form was used to document product availability, counseling length, whether or not the 7 counseling points and 6 assessment questions that could help guide the pharmacist's counseling regarding NRT products were provided without prompting, and potential inaccuracy of any recommendations and counseling points. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and analysis of variance and Fisher's exact test were used to test for variation across site type and time of day. RESULTSNRT was available for purchase without speaking to pharmacy staff in 99 of 120 (83%) pharmacies. The mean length of counseling was 136 (standard deviation = 91) seconds. The most common points discussed were recommended strength (72%), tapering schedule (58%), and assessment of the daily number of cigarettes smoked (56%). Forty-one (34%) pharmacists provided one or more potentially inaccurate counseling points, the most common being inaccurate tapering schedule (provided during 31 (26%) encounters). Only 15% of pharmacists referred auditors for additional help or recommended a follow-up. CONCLUSIONNRT was commonly accessible in community pharmacies outside of the pharmacy area. Opportunities for pharmacists to provide more complete and accurate information to better assist patients with safe and effective smoking cessation were identified.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Community pharmacists' counseling regarding nicotine replacement therapy: A secret shopper study
- Creators
- Melanie Sokol - The University of Texas at AustinAndrew DoDeni HuiSallyAnne St JacquesShankari SureshbabuAnuki Weerakoon-WijeratneKajal BhaktaShelby HumpertMatthew WitryKirk E Evoy
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, Vol.63(2), pp.574-581.e3
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.japh.2022.11.016
- PMID
- 36549932
- ISSN
- 1544-3191
- eISSN
- 1544-3450
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 12/01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Pharmacy Practice and Science; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984359872502771
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