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Do pharmacy staff recommend evidenced‐based smoking cessation products? A pseudo patron study
Author(s) -
Chiang P. P. C.,
Chapman S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2006.00649.x
Subject(s) - pharmacy , smoking cessation , medicine , family medicine , pathology
Summary Objective: To determine whether pharmacy staff recommend evidence‐based smoking cessation aids. Methods: Pseudo patron visit to 50 randomly selected Sydney pharmacies where the pseudo patron enquired about the ‘best’ way to quit smoking and about the efficacy of a non‐evidence‐based cessation product, NicoBloc ® . Results: Nicotine replacement therapy was universally stocked and the first product recommended by 90% of pharmacies. After prompting, 60% of pharmacies, either also recommended NicoBloc ® or deferred to ‘customer choice’. About 34% disparaged the product. Conclusions: Evidence‐based smoking cessation advice in Sydney pharmacies is fragile and may be compromised by commercial concerns. Smokers should be provided with independent point‐of‐sale summaries of evidence of cessation product effectiveness and warned about unsubstantiated claims.