The Role of Academic Pharmacy in Tobacco Cessation and Control

• DOI: 10.5688/ajpe77593
• Publication Date: 2013-07-29T17:56:52Z
• Authors: Sarah E. McBane; Robin L. Corelli; Christian B. Albano; John M. Conry; Mark A. Della Pao...; Amy K. Kennedy; Antoine T. Jenkins; Karen Suchanek Hu...
• Keywords: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Attitude of Health Personnel; Smoking Prevention; Pharmacy; Patient Advocacy; tobacco; smoking; Education; 03 medical and health sciences; Professional Role; 0302 clinical medicine; Clinical Research; Tobacco; Behavioral and Social Science; Humans; academic pharmacy; Cancer; Practice; Schools; Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Tobacco Smoke and Health; Prevention; Health Knowledge; Teaching; 4. Education; public health; Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Tobacco Use Disorder; Health Services; Faculty; 3. Good health; Good Health and Well Being; Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences; Education, Pharmacy; Schools, Pharmacy; Attitudes; Preceptorship; Smoking Cessation; Clinical Competence; Curriculum; Public Health; Curriculum and Pedagogy; policy

Despite decades of public health initiatives, tobacco use remains the leading known preventable cause of death in the United States. Clinicians have a proven, positive effect on patients' ability to quit, and pharmacists are strategically positioned to assist patients with quitting. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy recognizes health promotion and disease prevention as a key educational outcome; as such, tobacco cessation education should be a required component of pharmacy curricula to ensure that all pharmacy graduates possess the requisite evidence-based knowledge and skills to intervene with patients who use tobacco. Faculty members teaching tobacco cessation-related content must be knowledgeable and proficient in providing comprehensive cessation counseling, and all preceptors and practicing pharmacists providing direct patient care should screen for tobacco use and provide at least minimal counseling as a routine component of care. Pharmacy organizations should establish policies and resolutions addressing the profession's role in tobacco cessation and control, and the profession should work together to eliminate tobacco sales in all practice settings where pharmacy services are rendered.