BACKGROUND:
It
had been reported that up to 37% of the adult male population smokes cigarettes
in Qatar. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey also stated that 13.4% of male school students aged
13 to 15 years in Qatar smoke cigarettes. Smoking cessation is key to
reducing smoking-related diseases and deaths. Healthcare providers are in
an ideal position to encourage smoking cessation. Pharmacists are the
most accessible healthcare providers and are uniquely situated to initiate
behavior change among patients. Many studies have shown that pharmacists can be
successful in helping patients quit smoking. Studies demonstrating the
effectiveness of pharmacist-delivered smoking cessation programs are
lacking in Qatar. This proposal aims to test the effect of a structured smoking cessation
program delivered by trained ambulatory pharmacists in Qatar.
A prospective, randomized,
controlled trial is conducted at eight ambulatory pharmacies in Qatar.
Participants are randomly assigned to receive an at least four-session
face-to-face structured patient-specific smoking cessation program
conducted by the pharmacist or 5 to 10 min of unstructured brief smoking cessation
advice (emulating current practice) given by the pharmacist. Both groups are
offered nicotine replacement therapy if feasible. The primary outcome of smoking cessation
will be confirmed by an exhaled carbon monoxide test at 12 months. Secondary
outcomes constitute quality-of-life adjustment as well as cost analysis of
program resources consumed, including per case and patient outcome.
If proven to be effective,
this smoking cessation program will be considered as a model that
Qatar and the region can apply to decrease the smoking burden.
