title: Clinical pharmacist's role in implementing a smoking cessation intervention in a Swiss regional hospital: an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking cessation represents one of the best means of preventing smoking-related complications. In recent years, a majority of hospitals have implemented smoke-free policies, making support for smoker patients a necessary and indispensable task. The clinical pharmacist is well-positioned to provide this kind of support, given a good understanding of the medical condition and pharmacotherapy of hospitalized patients and the possibility to acquire specific smoking cessation training.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a smoking cessation intervention for hospitalized patients by a clinical pharmacist previously trained for smoking cessation counselling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Internal medicine department of a Swiss regional hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Smoker patients hospitalized in this department were included in the study from mid-September 2012 to mid-January 2013, according to the inclusion criteria. Moderate-intensity smoking cessation interventions based on smoking counselling and motivational interviewing techniques were used, and a follow-up telephone call at least 1 month after discharge was made. Patients' pharmacotherapy was analysed with regards to interactions with tobacco smoke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Motivational stage, abstinence at follow-up, change of readiness to quit between hospital visit and follow-up, patients' evaluation of the programme, pharmacotherapy interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred smoker patients were screened, of whom 41 received the intervention and 40 received a follow-up contact. At least 1 month after discharge, the readiness to quit of 53 % of patients improved and 33 % of patients declared themselves abstinent. Even though 35 % of patients declared having mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms in hospital, only 15 % were interested in receiving nicotine replacement therapy. Study participants evaluated the intervention positively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A moderate-intensity smoking cessation intervention in hospitalized patients was associated with a higher quit rate than in control groups from other studies, and their readiness to quit generally improved at least 1 month after hospital discharge. A clinical pharmacist trained for smoking cessation counselling can play a key role in providing such interventions, including the assessment of pharmacotherapy interactions with tobacco smoke.
authors.affiliation: , Vevey, Switzerland, maria.dobrinas@phel.ch.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobrinas
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rouiller
authors.forename: Grégoire
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Christen
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coronado
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tagan
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schäli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062405:Motivational Interviewing / Q000379:methods; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D013557:Switzerland