Examining the Relationship Between Demographics and the Attitudes of Arizona Pharmacists Regarding the Provision of Smoking Cessation Services

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the demographics and attitudes of Arizona pharmacists regarding provision of smoking cessation services. Methods: Paper-based surveys were distributed to pharmacists attending the 2006 Arizona Pharmacy Alliance (AzPA) Annual Meeting in Tucson, Arizona. The instrument allowed collection of 12 demographic points from subjects for data cross-sectioning. Opinions of the pharmacists were collected for 35 statements of agreement level on a four-point Likert-type response scale. Association between the demographic and opinion variables was analyzed using either Kruskal-Wallis’ rank-sum or Spearman's correlation tests. Results: Of 350 surveys distributed, 78 subjects returned them and 63 (18%) met inclusion criteria. Respondents agreed to all barriers of smoking cessation, particularly lacks in time (82.5%), patient demand (79.7%), smoking cessation program availability (68%), and documentation system (56.6%). Participants’ demographics including age, gender, practice setting and position, time since completion of education, specific smoking cessation education received, time spent counseling a patient, and number of general and smoking cessation counsels were significantly associated with pharmacists’ perceived demand and resource barriers to provision of smoking cessation services, faith in a patient’s ability to quit or try, self-perception as a valuable and effective resource, comfort level approaching patients regarding smoking cessation, likelihood of intervention, and feelings of reward (all p-values < 0.05). Conclusions: This study identified several associations between pharmacists’ demographics and their thoughts towards provision of smoking cessation services, though causation is undetermined.