TY - JOUR
T1 - A preliminary study on the effect of pharmacist counseling on awareness of and willingness to quit smoking in Malaysian population
AU - Babar, Zaheer Ud Din
AU - Bukhari, Nadeem Irfan
AU - Sarwar, Wasim
AU - Efendie, Benny
AU - Pereira, Rosa
AU - Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki Nik
PY - 2007/6/1
Y1 - 2007/6/1
N2 - Objectives: This paper presents an outcome of pharmacist counseling among Malaysian smokers for their awareness of and willingness to quit smoking. Method: It was a cross-sectional study during a 3-day public health campaign at a shopping complex. Each self-referred participant was asked to complete a questionnaire apart from the question regarding improvement, and if any in their awareness and willingness to quit smoking, were asked to respond after counseling. Pharmacists counseled each participant about smoking cessation strategies and smoking related diseases. The data were analyzed by χ 2 test. Results: Among respondents, 25.5% had been smoking for more than 10 years, 31% for 5-10 years, 25.4% for 2-5 years and 18.3% for 1-2 years. The participants declaring no awareness about smoking were 22.9%, with little awareness 44.3%, having moderate awareness 25.7% and with considerable awareness were 7.1%. After counseling, 4.1% revealed unawareness, 17.8% little awareness, 43.8% moderate and 34.2% had considerable awareness on the above aspects. The post counseling awareness on smoking was observed to be significantly higher (P< 0.01). Among smokers studied, 67% showed willingness to quit smoking. Conclusion: Increase in awareness of and willingness to quit smoking reflects that pharmacist counseling seems to be helpful in cessation of smoking.
AB - Objectives: This paper presents an outcome of pharmacist counseling among Malaysian smokers for their awareness of and willingness to quit smoking. Method: It was a cross-sectional study during a 3-day public health campaign at a shopping complex. Each self-referred participant was asked to complete a questionnaire apart from the question regarding improvement, and if any in their awareness and willingness to quit smoking, were asked to respond after counseling. Pharmacists counseled each participant about smoking cessation strategies and smoking related diseases. The data were analyzed by χ 2 test. Results: Among respondents, 25.5% had been smoking for more than 10 years, 31% for 5-10 years, 25.4% for 2-5 years and 18.3% for 1-2 years. The participants declaring no awareness about smoking were 22.9%, with little awareness 44.3%, having moderate awareness 25.7% and with considerable awareness were 7.1%. After counseling, 4.1% revealed unawareness, 17.8% little awareness, 43.8% moderate and 34.2% had considerable awareness on the above aspects. The post counseling awareness on smoking was observed to be significantly higher (P< 0.01). Among smokers studied, 67% showed willingness to quit smoking. Conclusion: Increase in awareness of and willingness to quit smoking reflects that pharmacist counseling seems to be helpful in cessation of smoking.
KW - Awareness
KW - Malaysia
KW - Pharmacist counseling
KW - Smoking cessation
KW - Willingness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34249891329&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11096-005-2905-4
DO - 10.1007/s11096-005-2905-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 17288012
AN - SCOPUS:34249891329
VL - 29
SP - 101
EP - 103
JO - International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
JF - International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
SN - 2210-7703
IS - 3
ER -