| This study was a quasi-experimental research with an aim to determine the effect of screening and counseling on smoking cessation by pharmacist at the outpatient service, Sappasittiprasong Hospital, Ubon Rajathanee. Pharmacists’ role was to screen and counsel using behavioral therapy together with “5A” technique. The study was conducted in 35 patients with cardiovascular diseases who were current smokes and came to outpatient clinic during December 2007-August 2008. The result showed that all patients were male (100.0%) who smoked 8.45.5 cigarettes per day for 28.115.9 years. The level of nicotine dependence was low (FTND score of 0-4) in 94.3% of all subjects while 40.0% enjoyed their smoking after having meals and parties. This study also indicated that 80.0% of patients quitted smoking at least once due to their illness (37.1%) and quit smoking immediately (71.4%). However, the major causes of returning back to smoke were from their craving (37.1%) and they saw their friends smoking (34.3%).
After pharmacist’s counseling, the results revealed that the readiness to quit smoking according to transtheoretical model of change was improved in 17 patients (48.6%). Additionally, after 4 times of the follow up (1 week, 1 month, 2-3 months and within 4 months after the counseling) the numbers of patients who were able to stop smoking were 9, 9, 7 and 13 respectively (25.7, 25.7, 20.0 and 37.1%). In comparison, the amounts of cigarette smoking per day in all patients and current smokers were significantly decreased after the continuation in 4 following up (p-value < 0.05).
In terms knowledge and attitude towards smoking cessation, it was found that patients’ knowledge (7.41.1 vs. 5.52.0, p-value = 0.000) and attitude (44.44.8 vs. 41.34.9, p-value = 0.001) were significantly improved after smoking cessation counseling. Moreover, that overall satisfaction on pharmacist’s counseling was high (3.80.3, total score of 5). In conclusion, the results of this study imply that pharmacist plays one of the important roles in assisting patients to stop smoking. |