Ellie Kang, PharmD, Aaron Lengel, PharmD, Adam McCabe, PharmD, Jeremy Sakel, PharmD, & Katie Sakel, MS. (2019). The Impact of Smoking Cessation Education on Long-Term Care Pharmacy Employees' Willingness to Quit. International Journal of Medical Sciences and Technology (IJMST) ISSN:0974-5343, 9(4), 25–32. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3384221

The Impact of Smoking Cessation Education on Long-Term Care Pharmacy Employees’ Willingness to Quit

Ellie Kang, PharmD1, Aaron Lengel, PharmD2, Adam McCabe, PharmD3, Jeremy Sakel, PharmD4, Katie Sakel, MS5

1,3,4 CVS/Omnicare

1,2 University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

5 Bowling Green State University

ellie.miji.kang@gmail.com , aaron.lengel@utoledo.edu , Adam.Mccabe@omnicare.com , jeremy.sakel@omnicare.com , kklotz@bgsu.edu

IJMST (2019), 9(4):25-32

ABSTRACT:

The purpose of this study was to determine tobacco use rates among employees of long-term care pharmacies and utilization of smoking cessation education materials; to provide participants with education on the health risks of smoking, benefits of quitting, and approaches to successful cessation; and to assess the impact of education on participants’ willingness to quit. An initial survey was distributed to employees of six long-term care pharmacy locations, where they identified as either a smoker or non-smoker. Following the survey, an email was sent on smoking cessation related topics in the form of a blog or video for six weeks. A survey was conducted post-education to assess for changes in willingness to quit. A total of 35 participants participated in the initial survey (27 non-smokers, never smoked; six non-smokers, previously smoked; and two current smokers). The two current smokers reported a willingness to quit of 5 or less. There were 21 lost to follow-up in the final survey; 14 participants in total participated (13 non-smokers, one current smoker). Of these 14 participants, nine preferred both blog and video education; two preferred blog, and three preferred videos. Data from the small subset of long-term care employees showed significance of health correlated to increased age and increased smoking behaviors. Initial survey showed that there was a lack of education awareness. Although the loss to follow-up was high, there is evidence that education appears to be helpful for the general population.

Keywords: smoking, cessation, education, tobacco treatment