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Electronic Cigarettes: The Perceptions of Pharmacists and Physicians

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2017

Jamie L. McConaha ,
Alana M. Grabigel ,
Dominick DiLucente  and
Phillip D. Lunney
Jamie L. McConaha*
Affiliation:
Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15282
Alana M. Grabigel
Affiliation:
Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15282
Dominick DiLucente
Affiliation:
Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15282
Phillip D. Lunney
Affiliation:
Lachman Consultants, 1600 Stewart Ave. Suite 604, Westbury, NY 11590
*
Address for correspondence: Jamie L. McConaha, PharmD, CTTS, BCACP, CDE Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15282. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate pharmacists’ and physicians’ perception and knowledge of e-cigarettes, including comfort level in counselling patients on these products. The study also assessed if, and to what extent, patient e-cigarette usage is collected as a marker of tobacco use status.

Methods: Surveys were distributed to community pharmacists and family practice physicians for 3 months, and responses were analysed utilising descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The majority of respondents reported not feeling fully confident on counselling patients about e-cigarettes, and responses revealed gaps in knowledge in both groups. Mixed results were obtained on the inclusion of e-cigarettes in assessment of patient smoking status.

Conclusions: Pharmacists and physicians would benefit from further information on e-cigarettes. Due to the increasing popularity, healthcare professionals will be called upon to serve as, care providers and informational resources to patients who use these products. This survey provided a consensus that further steps should be taken to increase product training and information dissemination.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Smoking Cessation , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , March 2018 , pp. 26 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

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