A National Survey of Training and Smoking Cessation Services Provided in Community Pharmacies in Thailand

Over the past few years, several training programs have been run in support of smoking cessation services within community pharmacy circles in Thailand. These have included a comprehensive training program offered by the Thai Pharmacy Network for Tobacco Control (TPNTC) and brief training programs run by other agencies. This study provides an estimate of the scale of smoking cessation activities among Thai pharmacies, and examines the impact of both the brief and comprehensive training programs on the provision of smoking cessation services. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 3,600 Thai community pharmacists. A total of 1,001 questionnaires were returned (response rate: 27.8%). Smoking cessation services were provided by 71.1% of the respondents, and 47.4% of such services gave only brief advice. Comprehensive services (defined by the 5A’s: ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange follow-up) accounted for 15.3% of the respondents. Only 293 pharmacists (29.6%) said they had received cessation training; 62.5% of whom had received such training from TPNTC. The receipt of brief and comprehensive training was associated with a higher rate of the provision of brief advice, when compared with no training, showing adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 2.93 (95% CI, 1.66–5.18) and 5.93 (95% CI, 3.18–10.17) respectively, while evidence of differences between these training programs was not observed, having an adjusted OR of 1.94 (95% CI, .89–4.21). TPNTC trained pharmacists were 4.98 times (95% CI, 2.24–11.05) more likely than those who received other brief training to provided the 5A’s cessation services. All types of training program help to promote the provision of brief counseling by pharmacists. Comprehensive training is associated with the increased provision of both 4A’s and 5A’s cessation services.     

Smoking cessation intervention practices in Chinese physicians: do gender and smoking status matter?

Healthcare settings provide a major arena for administering smoking cessation interventions. However, few studies have reported differences in the frequency of practice in healthcare professionals by gender and smoking status. This might also be influenced by a difference in smoking prevalence by gender, especially in China and other developing countries. This study examined factors associated with the frequency of cessation intervention practices by smoking status among Chinese physicians in men and women. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2006 in physicians with direct patient contact from nine hospitals in Guangzhou with a response rate of 60.8%. Significantly more female physicians who were non-smokers (79.7%) reported "initiation and/or advice" smoking cessation interventions than male physicians who were smokers (71.2%) and non-smokers (71.6%). Factors significantly associated with "initiation and/or advice" were prior smoking cessation training (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.8-9.6) and lack of knowledge to help patients to quit (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.9) among male physicians who smoked; and organisational support (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.3-2.2) and successful past experience (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-1.0) among male physicians who did not smoke. Among female physicians who did not smoke, significant factors were agreeing that quitting smoking is the most cost-effective way to prevent chronic disease and cancer (OR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.4-6.1), helping patients stop smoking is part of expected role and responsibility (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-3.7), lack of knowledge to help patients to quit (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.0) and organisational support (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6) for non-smoking female physicians. This study is the first to show that male physicians were less likely to provide smoking cessation counselling regardless of their smoking status while non-smoking female physicians were more active in advising patients on quitting. The findings highlight the need for developing tailored smoking cessation training programmes for physicians according to their smoking status and gender in China.     

Enhancing smoking cessation rates in primary care.

BACKGROUND: The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines on smoking cessation recommend that primary care physicians provide both brief advice against smoking and follow-up care for all smokers. Surveys show that although physicians understand the importance of smoking cessation, the actual implementation of these guidelines is limited. The main objective of our study was to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of 2 different approaches to smoking cessation counseling: practice-based and community-based. METHODS: Both smoking cessation approaches consisted of 1 recruitment session and 6 computer-assisted counseling sessions. In the practice-based approach, counseling was provided by office nurses and telephone counselors; in the community-based approach, the counseling was given by telephone counselors only. Four practices in 3 mid-Michigan communities participated, including 120 physicians and 487 patients who were smokers. The physicians were trained to provide brief advice for smoking cessation consistent with the AHCPR guidelines; the nurses and telephone counselors were trained in relapse prevention, computer skills, and individual case management. Sixty-two percent of the participants obtained free nicotine replacement therapy. RESULTS: At 6 months, quit rates (7-day smoke-free status) were 35% in the practice-based group and 36% in the community-based group. Participants who completed at least 4 sessions showed higher quit rates than those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses in primary care practices and counselors can be trained to deliver effective relapse-prevention counseling during office visits and by telephone. Our study showed an increase in the reported rates of smoking cessation by using these counseling methods.     

The TEAM project: the effectiveness of smoking cessation intervention with hospital patients

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effectiveness of three smoking cessation interventions for this population: (1) modified usual care (UC); (2) brief advice (A); and (3) brief advice plus more extended counseling during and after hospitalization (A + C). METHODS: Smokers (2,095) who were in-patients in four hospitals were randomly assigned to condition. Smoking status was ascertained via phone interview 7 days and 12 months post-discharge. At 12 months, reports of abstinence were validated by analysis of saliva cotinine. Intent to treat analyses were performed. RESULTS: At 7-day follow-up, 24.2% of participants reported abstinence in the previous 7 days. There were no differences between conditions. At 12-month follow-up, self-reported abstinence was significantly higher in the A + C condition (UC (15.0%) vs. A (15.2%) vs. A + C (19.8%)). There was no significant difference among conditions in cotinine-validated abstinence, however (UC (8.8%) vs. A (10.0%) vs. A + C (9.9%)). CONCLUSIONS: These interventions for hospital in-patients did not increase abstinence rates. Features of the study that might have contributed to this finding were the inclusiveness of the participation criteria, the fact that pharmacological aids were not provided, and a stage-matching approach that resulted in less intensive counseling for participants unwilling to set a quit date.     

Efficacy of a smoking relapse prevention program by postdischarge telephone contacts: a randomized trial

OBJECTIVES: This randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy of a smoking relapse prevention program featuring 3 postdischarge telephone contacts with subjects who had quit smoking on hospitalization. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to public health nurse-mediated behaviorally oriented in-patient counseling focused on relapse prevention (control group, n = 49), or the same inpatient counseling with postdischarge telephone contacts at 7, 21 and 42 days after discharge (intervention group, n = 57). The main outcome measure, smoking cessation rate, was obtained from self-reports at 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge. Smoking cessation at 12 months after discharge was confirmed by urinary nicotine concentration. RESULTS: At 3, 6 and 12 months smoking cessation rates were 83%, 63% and 56% for the intervention group, and 76%, 65% and 51% for control group. After adjustment for sex, age, having any complication, number of family members, smoking status on admission, strength of nicotine dependence and self confidence to quit smoking, the odds ratio of cessation among the intervention group were 1.46 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.48-4.47), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.31-2.17) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.40-2.45) at 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge, respectively. CONCLUSION: This program had limited efficacy to maintain postdischarge smoking abstinence. We should re-consider the modality of smoking cessation program for relapse prevention among hospitalized patients.     

Smoking cessation in primary care: a clinical effectiveness trial of two simple interventions

BACKGROUND: Many primary care practices do not have systematic protocols to identify patients who smoke or to encourage clinicians to provide smoking cessation advice. We designed a study to assess the relative effectiveness of two brief interventions on screening for smoking, physician cessation advice and patient smoking cessation rates. METHODS: We performed a nonrandomized comparison of alternative strategies for smoking cessation at a hospital-based adult primary care practice. Each intervention was implemented on a separate practice team. The "minimal" intervention consisted of a smoking status "vital sign" stamp which documented patient smoking status. The "enhanced" intervention consisted of a five-question form that assessed patient level of cessation readiness and provided cessation-counseling prompts for clinicians. Medical record documentation of screening for smoking and cessation advice and self-reported patient smoking cessation rates were collected 8-10 months after implementation. RESULTS: Smoking status was documented at 86%, 91%, and 49%, and cessation advice at 38%, 47%, and 30% of visits on the minimal, enhanced, and control teams, respectively (P < 0.001 for smoking status and P = 0.014 for advice). Self-reported patient smoking cessation was higher on the enhanced team (12%) compared with the minimal (2%) and control (4%) teams (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A short questionnaire that assesses readiness-to-quit and provides documentation of cessation advice improves rates of clinician cessation advice and patient smoking cessation compared with no intervention.     

Strategies to increase the delivery of smoking cessation treatments in primary care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate evidence-based strategies for increasing the delivery of smoking cessation treatments in primary care clinics.MethodsThe review included studies published before January 1, 2009. The pooled odds-ratio (OR) was calculated for intervention group versus control group for practitioner performance for “5As” (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist and Arrange) delivery and smoking abstinence. Multi-component interventions were defined as interventions which combined two or more intervention strategies.ResultsThirty-seven trials met eligibility criteria. Evidence from multiple large-scale trials was found to support the efficacy of multi-component interventions in increasing “5As” delivery. The pooled OR for multi-component interventions compared to control was 1.79 [95% CI 1.6–2.1] for “ask”, 1.6 [95% CI 1.4–1.8] for “advice”, 9.3 [95% CI 6.8–12.8] for “assist” (quit date) and 3.5 [95% CI 2.8–4.2] for “assist” (prescribe medications). Evidence was also found to support the value of practice-level interventions in increasing 5As delivery. Adjunct counseling [OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.5–2.0] and multi-component interventions [OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.7–2.8] were found to significantly increase smoking abstinence.ConclusionMulti-component interventions improve smoking outcomes in primary care settings. Future trials should attempt to isolate which components of multi-component interventions are required to optimize cost-effectiveness.     

Prenatal and postpartum smoking abstinence a partner-assisted approach

BACKGROUND: A partner's provision of support and smoking status has been consistently associated with women's likelihood of smoking cessation during pregnancy and relapse in postpartum. DESIGN: A three-group randomized controlled intervention trial was conducted in 1996 to 2001, with 583 women and their partners randomized to usual care (UC), woman-only (WO), or partner-assisted (PA) intervention. Follow-ups occurred at 28 weeks of pregnancy, and 2-, 6-, and 12-months postpartum. SETTING: Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. INTERVENTION: Women in the UC condition received provider advice to quit and a self-help guide. The WO condition received UC components plus a late-pregnancy relapse prevention kit (booklet and gift items) and six counseling calls (three in pregnancy and three postpartum) initiated by a health advisor. Women in the PA condition received the WO intervention, and their partners received telephone counseling and a support guide emphasizing skills to help the woman build and maintain her confidence to quit smoking. Partners who smoked also received cessation aids and related counseling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Seven-day self-reported abstinence from smoking at each follow-up. RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analyses showed no significant differences by condition in women's reports of abstinence at any follow-up. In late pregnancy, more partners were abstinent in the PA condition (15%) than in the UC condition (5%), p =0.02. CONCLUSIONS: Partner-assisted smoking-cessation interventions need further refinement. Influencing young couples' support patterns may require more intensive and conjoint intervention. Partners who smoke could benefit from support for their cessation efforts.     

The Kaiser Permanente prenatal smoking-cessation trial: when more isn't better, what is enough?

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of low-cost smoking interventions targeted to pregnant women has been demonstrated, although few gains in absolute cessation rates have been reported in the past decade. Under conditions of typical clinical practice, this study examined whether outcomes achieved with brief counseling from prenatal care providers and a self-help booklet could be improved by adding more resource-intensive cognitive-behavioral programs. DESIGN: Randomized Clinical Trial. SETTING: A large-group-model managed care organization. PARTICIPANTS: 390 English-speaking women 18 years of age or older who self-reported to be active smokers at their initial prenatal appointment. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized to one of three groups: (1) a self-help booklet tailored to smoking patterns, stage of change, and lifestyle of pregnant smokers; (2) the booklet plus access to a computerized telephone cessation program based on interactive voice response technology; or (3) the booklet plus proactive telephone counseling from nurse educators using motivational interviewing techniques and strategies. No attempt was made to change smoking-related usual care advice from prenatal providers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Biochemically confirmed abstinence measured by level of cotinine in urine samples obtained during a routine prenatal visit at approximately the 34th week of pregnancy. RESULTS: Twenty percent of participants were confirmed as abstinent with no significant differences found between intervention groups. Multivariate baseline predictors of cessation included number of cigarettes smoked per day, confidence in ability to quit, exposure to passive smoke, and educational level. No differential intervention effects were found within strata of these predictors or by baseline stage of readiness to change. Cessation rates among heavier smokers were strikingly low in all intervention groups. CONCLUSION: Neither a computerized telephone cessation program nor systematic provision of motivational counseling improved cessation rates over a tailored self-help booklet delivered within the context of brief advice from prenatal providers. Innovative strategies need to be developed to increase the effectiveness of existing prenatal smoking interventions. Special attention should be paid to the needs of heavier smokers.     

An academic detailing intervention to disseminate physician-delivered smoking cessation counseling: smoking cessation outcomes of the Physicians Counseling Smokers Project

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effectiveness of interventions to disseminate smoking cessation interventions among a population of primary care physicians. This study's objective was to determine the effect of a community-based academic detailing intervention on the quit rates of a population-based sample of smokers. METHODS: This community-based, quasi-experimental study involved representative samples of 259 primary care physicians and 4295 adult smokers. An academic detailing intervention was delivered to physicians in intervention areas over a period of 15 months. Analyses were performed on the data from the 2346 subjects who reported at least one physician visit over 24 months. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to determine the impact of the intervention on self-reported smoking quit rates, reported by adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: Among smokers reporting a physician visit during the study period, there was a borderline significant effect for those residing in intervention areas versus control areas (OR = 1.35; 95% CI.99-1.83; P = 0.057). Among a subgroup of 819 smokers who reported a visit with an enrolled physician, we observed a significant effect for those residing in intervention areas (OR = 1.80; 95% CI 1.16-2.75; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: An academic detailing intervention to enhance physician delivered smoking cessation counseling is an effective strategy for disseminating smoking cessation interventions among community-based practices.     

Efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention using the AHCPR guideline tailored for Koreans: a randomized controlled trial

This study was undertaken to evaluate a tailored smoking cessation intervention, which is applicable to Korean culture, using the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guideline. On-site counselors provided brief nurse-assisted smoking cessation counseling, including follow-up telephone support, to prevent a relapse in 200 randomly assigned smoking patients. These patients were referred by their physicians regardless of their willingness in smoking cessation in the outpatient department at a university hospital. Nicotine replacement therapy was not provided. Another 201 patients served as a control. After 5 months, current smoking cessation was self-reported on the phone and validated later by a portable carbon monoxide analyzer. After 5 months, the participants in the intervention group were no more likely to quit smoking than the control group. A subgroup analysis by age showed that the intervention among 166 younger smokers (aged 49 or less) was significantly more likely to be effective {risk ratio = 5.76 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-24.74]} than it was among 235 older smokers (aged 50 or more) [risk ratio = 1.03 (95% CI 0.53-1.99)]. This study suggests a smoking cessation intervention using the AHCPR guideline tailored for Koreans, is effective for assisting outpatients aged 49 or younger to quit smoking.     

Improving smoking cessation advice in Australian general practice: what do GPs suggest is needed?

Smoking cessation advice from a general practitioner (GP) significantly increases quit rates among patients who smoke. However, smoking is not discussed during most routine consultations with smokers. This study describes GPs' own views about strategies to support their cessation advice. In 1997, a random sample of 311 GPs in NSW (73% response rate) completed a self-administered questionnaire about smoking cessation. Most respondents were 'very confident' about discussing the health effects of smoking (81.7%). Fewer were as confident about negotiating a quit date (21.5%) or using evidence-based smoking cessation techniques (19.3%). The top three preferred strategies to support smoking cessation advice were all resources for patients: subsidised nicotine replacement therapy (rated as 'quite useful' by 60.5%), pamphlets (55.0%) and free access to smoking cessation clinics (50.8%). Skills training (39.7%) was the preferred resource to improve practitioner effectiveness. Interventions combining skills training with patient resources are likely to be well received by GPs.     

The impact of behavioral counseling on stage of change in fat intake, physical activity, and cigarette smoking in adults at increased risk of coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed stages of change in fat intake, physical activity, and cigarette smoking during a randomized controlled trial of behavioral counseling. METHODS: Twenty general practices (primary health care centers) were randomized to lifestyle counseling by behavioral methods or to usual health promotion. A total of 883 patients were selected for the presence of 1 or more of the following risk factors: cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, or a combination of a high body mass index and low physical activity. Stage of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action/maintenance) was assessed at baseline and after 4 and 12 months. RESULTS: The odds of moving to action/maintenance for behavioral intervention vs control patients at 4 months were 2.15 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30, 3.56) for fat reduction, 1.89 (95% CI = 1.07, 3.36) for increased physical activity, and 1.77 (95% CI = 0.76, 4.14) for smoking cessation. The likelihood of achieving action/maintenance was related to baseline stage for all 3 behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Brief behavioral counseling based on advice matched to stage of readiness for change may be valuable in encouraging healthy lifestyles among patients in primary care at raised risk of cardiovascular disease.     

Does methodology affect the ability to monitor tobacco control activities? implications for HEDIS and other performance measures

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether methodological differences in sample size, survey methods, and analysis approach significantly affect the ability to accurately monitor tobacco control activities and to make rate comparisons. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 64,764 members of nine health plans in diverse settings soon after their visit to a primary care clinician. Of these 41,677 completed responses were received. We compared responses received by mail and by telephone follow-up for the percentage of smokers, characteristics of smokers, and their rates of reporting physician cessation counseling. RESULTS: Overall, 10.2% were current cigarette smokers, but the proportion was 8.6% for mail responders and 17.2% for phone follow-up responders. Smokers identified by phone follow-up were different from mail responders in most demographic and smoking characteristics and their reports of clinical smoking cessation activities differed for six of nine clinician smoking cessation actions. Calculating advice rates as a proportion of visits produced lower rates with more dispersion among plan rates than doing so without accounting for visit variation. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking surveys using only mailed questionnaires dramatically undersample smokers, especially in some demographic groups. Comparisons of tobacco counseling among health plans can be improved by ensuring an adequate sample size and response rate and by analyzing by frequency of quit advice.     

The development of a decisional balance measure of physician smoking cessation interventions

BACKGROUND: Decreasing the prevalence of smoking is an important health care goal, and there is evidence that physicians' advice to quit is an important motivator for patients. However, fewer than half of smokers report that they have ever been advised to quit. This study was conducted to develop a decisional balance measure for physician delivery of smoking cessation interventions. METHODS: This study included a convenience sample of 155 primary care physicians. A decisional balance measure was developed using item generation and development, pilot testing, and principal components analyses. Validity was established by relating the decisional balance measure to a previously validated item of counseling behavior and to physician stage of readiness to deliver smoking cessation counseling. RESULTS: Based on principal components analyses and item analyses, the final measure consisted of 10 Pro and 10 Con items with coefficient alpha of 0.83 and 0.86. The Pros and Cons scales were significantly associated with self-reported counseling to patients who smoke and to stage of readiness to deliver smoking cessation counseling. CONCLUSIONS: A decisional balance measure of physician smoking cessation interventions can be used to assist investigators in developing effective interventions to enhance the delivery of smoking cessation interventions in primary care settings.     

Gender differences among general practitioners in smoking cessation counseling practices

OBJECTIVES: To describe gender differences in smoking cessation counseling practices among general practitioners (GPs), and to investigate the association between training for cessation counseling and counseling practices according to gender. METHODS: Data were collected in two cross-sectional mail surveys conducted in independent random samples of GPs in Montreal, the first in 1998, and the second in 2000. RESULTS: Respondents included 653 GPs (71% of 916 eligible). All indicators of smoking cessation counseling practices were more favorable among female GPs. Higher proportions of female GPs had received training (28% vs. 17%, p=0.002), and were aware of mailed print educational materials related to cessation counseling (81% vs. 57%, p<0.0001). Training among male GPs was associated with higher scores for ascertainment of smoking status (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval)=1.69 (0.97, 2.96)), provision of advice (OR=2.20 (1.23, 3.95)), and provision of adjunct support (OR=2.86 (1.58, 5.16)). Training was not associated with counseling practices among female GPs. CONCLUSIONS: Female GPs may not benefit from formal cessation counseling training to the same extent as male GPs, possibly because they read and integrate the content of (easily available) print educational materials into their clinical practice to a greater extent than male GPs. The gender-specific impact of print educational material and formal training on cessation counseling should be evaluated among GPs.     

Helping hospital patients quit: what the evidence supports and what guidelines recommend

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to critically appraise the extent and strength of systematic review evidence for, and guideline recommendations regarding hospital smoking cessation interventions. METHODS: Systematic reviews of smoking cessation interventions were identified via an electronic search of the Cochrane Library. Meta-analyses from Cochrane reviews were categorised as those that incorporated only studies of hospital based interventions, and those which incorporated interventions which were not hospital based. Smoking cessation guidelines for hospital health professionals were identified via a search of the World Wide Web. RESULTS: The review found that evidence from meta-analyses restricted to hospital studies was insufficient to evaluate a number of specific intervention strategies and at times conflicted with the findings of meta-analyses without such restrictions. The majority of guidelines recommended the provision of brief advice, counseling, nicotine replacement therapy despite the absence of clear supporting evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Further hospital-based research addressing specific cessation strategies is required. Furthermore, smoking cessation guidelines for hospital based health professionals should more specifically reflect evidence from this setting.     

Probability of success in tobacco quitting during the course of two simple medical interventions

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Counselling for tobacco quitting could be improved by informing smokers about the likelihood of success in quitting over time since the start of an intervention for smoking cessation. This study assessed the change in the probability of success in tobacco quitting during the course of two simple medical interventions for smoking cessation. METHODS: Prospective study in three worksites in the Basque Country (Spain), which underwent two interventions for quitting. Intervention 1 consisted of sporadic, brief (30 seconds-1 minute) and unstructured medical advice to quit. Intervention 2 consisted of brief (5-8 minutes) structured medical counselling for tobacco quitting in a first visit, followed by reinforcement advice on 3 occasions during 3 months, accompanied by nicotine patches individualized according to nicotine dependence. Results are expressed as a "relative measure of success" or rate of proportions (RP) calculated as the predictive value of achieving tobacco abstinence at 12 months for those with tobacco abstinence at 2 days, 15 days and 3 months from the start of each intervention divided by the percentage abstinent at 12. RESULTS: For the 103 smokers subjected to intervention 1, RP was 1.7 (CI 95%: 1.0-3.4) at 2 days, 2.3 (1.2-4.6) at 15 days, and 3.4 (1.8-6.5) at 3 months. For the 114 subjects who underwent intervention 2, RP was 1.3 (1.0-2.1) at 2 days, 1.9 (1.2-2.8) at 15 days, and 2.6 (1.8-3.8) at 3 months. Results did not change materially after stratification by number of cigarettes smoked, or nicotine dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Remaining abstinent from tobacco smoking at 3 months after the start of a quitting intervention increases the likelihood of success in quitting at 12 months.