Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of the underlying disease on short-term smoking cessation among patients at our smoking cessation clinic.
Subjects and Methods: We included 98 patients (77 men and 21 women; mean age, 58.5 ± 1.4 years) who visited the smoking cessation clinic at the National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, from April 2009 to March 2013. We investigated the predictive factors for short-term smoking cessation, including the type of underlying disease.
Results: Presence of dyslipidemia and high concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) in the exhaled air at the first visit were significant predictive factors for unsuccessful smoking cessation. Attending the clinic on five occasions was significant predictive factor for successful smoking cessation.
Discussion and Conclusions: Patient’s adherence to the smoking cessation program and the number and regularity of clinic visits for this purpose can only be known retrospectively. However, information regarding the concentration of CO in the exhaled air and presence of dyslipidemia can be obtained at the first visit. We must pay attention to the high possibility of unsuccessful smoking cessation in patients with high concentration of CO in the exhaled air and patients with underlying dyslipidemia at the first visit. Detailed guidance and support should be provided to such patients in order to improve outcomes of smoking cessation.

View full abstract

Objective: We investigated the role of pharmacists in smoking cessation support and its present situation in community pharmacies using a questionnaire intended for doctors and pharmacists.
Methods: A survey was sent to 200 doctors who were board certified members or fellows of the Japan Society for Tobacco Control and 300 pharmacists in community pharmacies.
Results/Findings: The questionnaire response rates were 49% for doctors and 43% for pharmacists. The number of doctors who expressed the need for smoking cessation support (recommendations for the cessation of smoking, the administration of appropriate medication, non-smoking guidance and consultations) by pharmacists in community pharmacies was larger than that of pharmacists. Although it did not become the support situation desired by doctors, pharmacists dealing with non-smoking adjuvants provided non-smoking support more actively than those dealing with non-smoking adjuvants. In order to improve smoking cessation support, doctors and pharmacists emphasized the importance of the confirmation of effects and side effects, ongoing follow-ups of non-smoking treatments, and cooperative support between pharmacists and doctors.
Conclusion: Non-smoking support by pharmacists did not become the situation desired by doctors. More cooperative support between pharmacists and doctors is needed in order for pharmacists in community pharmacies to provide better smoking cessation support.

View full abstract