Impact of a Pharmacist-Managed Smoking Cessation Program

PURPOSE: Estimated abstinence rates (EARs) in tobacco users are approximately 22% after using medications and receiving counseling. The goals of this project were to (i) determine the percent of participants who successfully quit smoking in a pharmacist-managed smoking cessation service at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) and (ii) identify what the participants found helpful about the service. METHODS: A pharmacist-managed smoking cessation service, including medication recommendations and counseling, was implemented at a FQHC that serves an indigent population. A four-item survey was developed to address the study objectives. Past participants of the program were contacted via telephone and asked to participate. For non-responders, smoking status at their last pharmacist appointment was obtained through the electronic health record (EHR). Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: Of 58 past participants, 19 completed the survey (32.8% response rate). Nearly 90% (N=17), reported that the program was helpful in their quit attempt. Programmatic areas that were the most helpful were: education, counseling, and medication. After assessing survey and EHR data, the EAR (quit rate) of the service was 20.7% (N=12). CONCLUSION: A pharmacist-managed smoking cessation service resulted in a similar quit rate to the literature, despite being offered at an FQHC serving an indigent population. Patients at the clinic often have significant barriers to achieving their health goals and do not continue to follow-up to complete the program, creating challenges to determine the true EAR of participants. Efforts have been made to expand the program and to continue to determine what factors impact the success of the service in order to improve it