ASHP Intersections Summer 2010 - 21

Studies show that people are more likely to quit when they hear the message through multiple providers.

clinical focus

UL, TOBACCO-CESSATION TOOLS
that pharmacists have traditionally done, so there isn’t necessarily a routine for incorporating it into our patient interactions.” Sometimes, the ability to conduct outreach comes down to a simple matter of personal comfort. “There’s a reluctance particular to community pharmacy when it comes to asking people about their tobacco use,” said Zillich. “But if you don’t ask, you can’t help patients quit.” The approach should always be respectful of the patient, said Hudmon. “Before asking questions about smoking or imparting advice, ask for permission to do so. ‘Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?’ and ‘May I tell you what concerns me [about your smoking]?’ ” Vitale added that pharmacists often have a ready-made reason for asking: namely, drug interactions. “In training students and clinicians, we provide them with a list of medications known to interact with smoking,” he said. “If a patient is taking a medication that is on the list, that’s a perfect opportunity to start the conversation.” Vitale, who has counseled more than 15,000 patients about smoking cessation, said that he finds a common theme among tobacco users. “You discover very quickly that most smokers hate it and want to stop,” he said. “But many have that little voice that wants them to find an excuse to continue. If you, as a health professional, don’t say anything, you could be providing them with that excuse to continue.”

Alan J. Zillich, Pharm.D.

A Touchy Subject One of the challenges of using AAR is getting through the first step—asking a patient if he or she smokes or uses tobacco. “In clinics, nurses tend to ask because it’s a routine part of their job,” said Alan J. Zillich, Pharm.D., associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Purdue and research scientist at the Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center in Indianapolis. “But it’s not something

Want to Know More?
ASHP has been at the vanguard of pharmacists’ work in helping patients to stop smoking and using other forms of tobacco. In addition to a comprehensive online Tobacco Cessation Resource Center, which features extensive tips, tools and other professional resources, ASHP recently developed a Therapeutic Position Statement that focuses on drug therapy. For more information about Rx for Change and clinician-assisted tobacco cessation, visit http://rxforchange.ucsf.edu/about.php.

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INTERSECTIONS

summer 2010

ASHP Intersections Summer 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHP Intersections Summer 2010