Pharmacy students' perceptions of tobacco sales in pharmacies and suggested strategies for promoting tobacco-free experiential sites.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this report were to estimate the extent to which pharmacy student perceptions are aligned with the 2003 resolution of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) addressing the use of experiential sites that sell cigarettes and other tobacco products.


METHODS
Pharmacy students participating in a national tobacco cessation training program completed posttraining survey instruments and indicated their opinion about tobacco sales in pharmacies. Responses were examined with respect to students' sex and tobacco use status.


RESULTS
Of 3,064 students, 3.5% were in favor of tobacco sales in pharmacies. Opinions varied by students' sex (p < 0.001) and tobacco use status (p < 0.001); in logistic regression analyses, males (OR = 2.62; 95% CI, 1.77, 3.89) and current tobacco users (OR = 2.31; 95% CI, 1.41, 3.76) were most likely to be in favor of tobacco sales.


CONCLUSIONS
Few pharmacy students are in favor of tobacco sales in pharmacies. Given the overall lack of support, and acting in accordance with the 2003 AACP resolution, pharmacy schools are encouraged to use only experiential sites that do not sell tobacco products. Suggested strategies for moving toward this goal are presented.
Hudmon
Karen Suchanek
KS
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, USA. hudmonk@pharmacy.ucsf.edu
Hussar
Daniel A
DA
Fenlon
Christine M
CM
Corelli
Robin L
RL
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000592:standards*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless