Measuring Effects of Pharmacists’ Training on Smoking Cessation Using Mystery Shoppers

Abstract

Background: Pharmacists’ role in smoking cessation is unique as they are easily to be accessed by public. Supporting evidences revealed that trained pharmacists improved their self-efficacy and ability in smoking cessation counseling. This study aimed to investigate whether pharmacists able to perform smoking cessation counseling at 4 weeks after training. Methods: Trained mystery shoppers instructed to play ready-to quit smoking scenario, visited 241 pharmacists (consisted of 127 pharmacists in training group and 114 pharmacists in control group). Scenario of 5A’s smoking cessation counseling was presented by mystery shoppers (MS). MS documented the counseling process using standardized observation tool immediately after pharmacy visit. MS acceptability survey was delivered via postmail after MS visited pharmacies. Results: In training group, nearly all of pharmacists (90%) asked patient whether he smokes, 80% of pharmacists advise patient to quit and assess patient readiness to quit. However, less than half of pharmacists (46%) perform in assisting patient by facilitating quit process. Only 25% of pharmacists able to set quit date and discuss key issues, and 15% of pharmacists offered follow up counseling. A significant different between intervention and control group in assisting patients at 4 weeks post-training follow up showed the effectiveness of training (P 0.001). Conclusions: Pharmacists able to retain the skills in ask, advise, and assess readiness to quit within 4 weeks after training, but need more advance training to improve their skills in assisting and follow up counseling. The efforts to nationally disseminate the training are steps forward to enhance pharmacists’ involvement in tobacco control.