Pharmacy helps smokers quit
November 15, 2011
A NEW project aimed at helping
smokers quit for good will
investigate just how effective
ongoing support from pharmacists
in the quit smoking process is.
Led by Monash University
researcher and qualified
pharmacist Dr Johnson George of
the Centre for Medicine Use
(CMUS) and Safety, the Give Up For
Good study will offer patients
targeted individual programs,
taking into account their addiction,
motivation, barriers, concerns and
quitting history.
“For example, if a patient was
worried about gaining weight after
quitting, we would organise for
them to see a dietitian or a
physiotherapist,” said Dr George.
The quit program will commence
in-hospital, and when patients are
discharged will see their
pharmacists and GP’s provide them
with ongoing program support,
including regular phone calls.
“Pharmacists, being medicines
experts with a clear understanding
of the physiological mechanisms of
addiction, would be able to offer
the kind of support necessary for
patients who wanted to quit
smoking,” said Dr George.
“The health benefits of quitting
smoking, for people of any age, are
clear and we’ve found considerable
interest among in-patients with a
smoking history in starting a
smoking cessation program.”
“Research indicates that a
hospital visit is an ideal time to
commence a quitting program and
we want to capitalise on this,” he
added, saying that although
Victorian hospitals are now smoke
free, “the support given to patients
is often limited to the provision of
nicotine replacement products,
such as patches or gum”.
It is hoped that if successful the
program will become a routine
service offered by hospitals.
Results of the trial are expected in
late 2013.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 15 Nov 11To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 15 Nov 11
