The pharmacist's role in smoking cessation counseling: perceptions of users of nonprescription nicotine replacement therapy.

OBJECTIVES To characterize nonprescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) users with respect to sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco use history, and support for tobacco cessation received from health care professionals; assess the methods used for quitting (past and present) by NRT users; assess NRT users' perceptions of the need for and usefulness of pharmacist-facilitated cessation interventions; and determine the types of pharmacy-based interventions that would be most helpful before and during quit attempts. DESIGN One-time attitudinal assessment. SETTING Primarily Northern California. PARTICIPANTS One hundred three individuals who had recently purchased nonprescription NRT products for use during their current or upcoming quit attempt. INTERVENTION In-depth telephone interviews. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Perceptions of pharmacy-based tobacco cessation counseling services. RESULTS The concept of pharmacist-facilitated assistance was appealing to many NRT users. Sixty-three percent of participants believed that receiving advice or assistance from a pharmacist would either probably (46%) or definitely (17%) increase a smoker's likelihood of being able to quit. Twenty-one percent were unsure, and 16% thought pharmacist assistance would not increase the chance of success. Forty-six percent reported that they would be either very or extremely likely to meet with a pharmacist for one-on-one counseling if a nominal ($10) co-payment were required; this percentage increased to 68% if the service were provided free of charge. The preferred structure for counseling interventions varied widely among participants, suggesting that individually tailored counseling programs are necessary. CONCLUSION A substantial proportion of nonprescription NRT users view pharmacist-assisted cessation as an appealing approach to smoking cessation.