Survey on smoking cessation services in registered pharmacies in Japan

Objectives: In Japan, support for smoking cessation is not listed as a mandatory item on prefecture websites providing information regarding functional pharmacy services; thus, accessing pharmacies with smoking cessation support can be difficult for smokers who wish to quit smoking. To address this, the Pharmacists Committee of Japan Society for Tobacco Control curated an online list of smoking cessation support pharmacies in Japan (Smoking Cessation Support Pharmacy Navigator [SCSPN]). However, smoking cessation services may differ across registered pharmacies due to the lack of official standards. Therefore, we conducted a survey on smoking cessation services at pharmacies registered under SCSPN with the objective of discussing the establishment criteria for such pharmacies.<br> Method: We collected data from the SCSPN and classified pharmacies according to certification for smoking cessation support. The study analyzed the relationship between the level of smoking cessation support provided in pharmacies and the support environment (e.g., information materials). <br> Results: As of January 31, 2024, 437 pharmacies were registered under the SCSPN, of which Hiroshima Prefecture displayed the largest number (n = 154, 36%). Only approximately 20% of pharmacies stocked nicotine patches as an over-the-counter smoking cessation aid. Pharmacies with pharmacists certified by smoking cessation societies (mean ± SD, 3.1 ± 1.2) and community pharmacy associations (3.0 ± 1.2) provided patients with more diverse information materials than pharmacists without accreditation (2.6 ± 1.1; p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Approximately 70% of pharmacies with pharmacists with certain types of smoking cessation certification reported experience in smoking cessation support compared with 50% of those with noncertified pharmacists (p = 0.02). More withdrawal symptom-relieving products other than smoking cessation aids were also available in pharmacies with pharmacists with certain certification.<br> Conclusions: Pharmacies with pharmacists certified by professional societies, such as the Japan Society for Tobacco Control, could provide better smoking cessation services to patients who wish to quit smoking. Thus, establishing criteria for the standardization of pharmacies that advocate smoking cessation is necessary to improve smoking cessation services in Japan.