Smoking cessation support - the new or old role of pharmacists

Abstract

Pharmacies are the most represented health institutions in a community. Some of their numerous benefits for public health activities are longer working hours and possibility to get advice without making an appointment (1). An increasing number of countries has recently become actively involved in the promotion of public health services in pharmacies. A review of the papers shows that pharmacists feel more comfortable in providing drug- related than public health-related services. In the United Kingdom, smoking cessation activities are the most common public health activity of pharmacists (2). Smoking is a difficult form of addiction. Quitting smoking is a big challenge. Many states allow pharmacists to initiate therapy or assess the success of cessation and monitor for adverse reactions. According to pharmacy students in Serbia, the pharmacy is a place where public health services should be provided (98.7%), while 59.7% of respondents believe that smoking cessation services should also be implemented there. The general public (80.3%) strongly agrees that public health activities should be an integral part of pharmacy services. The general population supports the smoking cessation service in the percentage of 36.7%, while pharmacists support it in 49.2%. The views of pharmacy students, the general public and pharmacists point to a positive attitude towards the new and modern model of pharmacists, which certainly includes public health services. Before the pilot implementation of these pharmaceutical services in pharmacies, the main obstacles should be identified and overcome.

Apoteke su najzastupljenije zdravstvene ustanove u jednom društvu. Neke od njiihovih brojnih prednosti u vezi sa javnim zdravljem su duže radno vreme i mogućnost dobijanja saveta bez prethodnog zakazivanja posete, u skorije vreme se sve veći broj zemalja aktivno uključuje u promociju javno-zdravstvenih usluga u apotekama (1). Kroz pregled radova prikazano je da se farmaceuti lagodnije osećaju prilikom pružanja usluga u vezi sa lekovima, nego sa javnim zdravljem. U Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu su aktivnosti usmerene ka odvikavanju od pušenja najučestalija javno-zdravstvena aktivnost farmaceuta (2). Pušenje predstavlja težak oblik zavisnosti. Prestanak pušenja je veliki izazov. Mnoge države dozvoljavaju farmaceutima da započnu terapiju ili procenjuju uspeh prestanka i nadgledaju neželjene reakcije. Prema stavovima studenata farmacije u Srbiji, apoteka jeste mesto gde treba da se pruža javno-zdravstvena usluga (98,7%), dok 59,7% ispitanika smatra da je tamo potrebno uvesti i uslugu odvikavanja od pušenja. Opšta javnost (80,3%) veoma se slaže da bi javno-zdravstvene aktivnosti trebalo da budu sastavni deo apotekarskih usluga. Uslugu odvikavanja od pušenja opšta populacija podržava u procentu od 36,7%, dok je farmaceuti podržavaju u 49,2%. Mišljenja studenata farmacije, opšte javnosti i farmaceuta ukazuju na pozitvan stav o novom i modernom modelu farmaceuta, koji svakako uključuje usluge javnog zdravlja. Pre pilot implementacije ovih farmaceutskih usluga u apoteke, potrebno je identifikovati i otkloniti glavne prepreke.