Perceptions of pharmacist-furnished nicotine replacement therapy among participants who smoke in California

Abstract

Background and Objective

California’s Central Valley has high rates of tobacco product use and low rates of access to primary care providers. In 2016, California sought to increase access to cessation treatment by allowing pharmacists to prescribe nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). We sought to identify the extent to which this prescribing authority has been integrated into practice.

Methods

From December 2023 to May 2024, we surveyed adult California participants (n = 271) who smoke about their smoking patterns, perceptions towards NRT, experiences with receiving tobacco cessation resources in pharmacies. Participants were recruited via email and in person. We analyzed participants’ smoking and quitting history, perceptions of NRT, and experiences with tobacco cessation , comparing residents of California’s Central Valley (n = 52) to other regions of the state (n = 219).

Results

Smoking rates were comparable for respondents in the Central Valley and those residing in other regions of California, although older respondents tended to smoke more heavily. Respondents had few positive perceptions regarding NRT and expressed concerns about perceived side effects and the risk of dependency; past use of NRT was also associated with lower odds of quitting.

Conclusions

Despite the low risks and high efficacy of prescription NRT for tobacco cessation, participants in our sample expressed concerns about its perceived side effects, potential for dependency, and a belief that it was not useful. Our findings suggest that additional efforts are needed to improve education about NRT, such as via pharmacist-provided tobacco cessation services.