(1316) “operation-cease Nicotine” – an Assessment on Smoking Cessation Led by Community Pharmacists

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the development and implementation of a pharmacist-mediated tobacco cessation program with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Approximately 15% of Texans use tobacco or nicotine products, with a significant increase in e-cigarette usage in recent years. Research on pharmacist led smoking cessation programs is limited but has shown progress in cessation upon patient’s completion of the study. Furthermore, there has been a movement to increase access to tobacco cessation medications by allowing pharmacist prescriptive authority for these medications in many states. However, in Texas, as of May 2019, House Bill No. 4285 allowing pharmacist’s prescriptive authority is still pending. A study in the state of Texas, that proves the benefit of pharmacist intervention in smoking cessation could be beneficial in granting prescriptive authority. YESQUIT, is a state funded program that provides 2 weeks of NRT to eligible patients. Programs like YESQUIT are helpful but the ongoing counseling and NRT refills, by pharmacists, may provide long term success in patients no longer smoking.

Methods: This innovative practice report will detail the development and implementation of an employee-based tobacco cessation program. Eligible participants will be employees of a regional, supermarket grocery company in Central Texas who use tobacco products. Those interested will receive education on the health benefits of discontinuing nicotine/tobacco products. Prior to enrollment in the study, participants will be given informed consent. Baseline information on those enrolled will be collected, including type of tobacco product used, how duration of use, quantity of tobacco products used in 24 hours, and how soon after waking up is a product used. Enrollees will be interviewed and YESQUIT referral forms will be submitted on behalf of enrollees to see if they will be eligible to receive NRT products. In addition to the NRT, participants will receive scheduled interventions from the pharmacist utilizing motivational interviewing. At the end of the program, participants will be assessed for tobacco use and achievement of cessation. Descriptive statistics will be used to assess differences in cessation rates.

Results: Results are pending.

Conclusions: Conclusion is pending. However, the impact of this employee-based service will guide future implementation and pharmacist-led tobacco cessation efforts. Additionally, this study may further support efforts to expand pharmacists’ prescriptive authority for tobacco cessation products.