FIP releases new supports for pharmacists to help patients quit smoking

A tenth of Canadians smoke, and more than 900,000 tried to quit smoking in the year before the latest Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey in 2021. Most who tried to stop, did so independently without any help or preparation. Pharmacists are ideally positioned to help people who want to stop using tobacco do it in an evidence-based way. The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) recently released a new handbook and knowledge and skills guide for pharmacists on tobacco cessation. “The information contained in this handbook is practicable and tailored to the needs of pharmacists. Using this new resource from FIP, pharmacists can contribute to improving public health and reducing the large burden of tobacco use on our healthcare systems,” Inês Nunes da Cunha, co-author of the handbook and FIP practice development and transformation projects manager, said in a press release. Read: Healthcare advocacy groups want provinces to seek anti-smoking measures in Big Tobacco settlement The handbook delves into the various types of tobacco use, how nicotine is addictive and what it’s really like to quit. It offers scripts and advice for pharmacists on assessing people’s motivation to quit; information on interventions such as pharmacological options and behaviour support; resources like apps to help patients quit; and instructions on creating personalized quitting plans for patients. Plus, it offers pharmacists advice on how to counsel specific groups of people who use tobacco and have certain diseases: people with cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes and mental health issues. It also discusses specific needs and advice for teenagers, pregnant women and older adults. The knowledge and skills guide contains an extensive reference list of the knowledge and skills that pharmacists need to help patients who are addicted to tobacco, from how the respiratory system works to how to communicate with patients in a non-judgmental way. Read: Tobacco harm reduction and vaping cessation: New opportunities for pharmacist skills

FIP releases new supports for pharmacists to help patients quit smoking

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