(28) Community Pharmacies at the Frontline for Tobacco Cessation: Insights from a Qualitative Study

Objective : This study aimed to explore the integration of tobacco cessation services in community pharmacies, identifying key facilitators and barriers to their implementation.

Methods: Conducted in California, this qualitative study involved seven community pharmacies within the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN). Twenty-two pharmacists and 26 pharmacy technicians, having completed tobacco cessation training, were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations Theory served as the guiding framework for qualitative thematic analysis.

Results: Sixteen pharmacy personnel participated in individual interviews, and themes emerged for each of the five key Rogers’ constructs. Relative Advantage: The clear benefits of offering cessation services included enhanced patient care. Participants noted increased patient engagement and satisfaction. Compatibility: Services were largely seen as aligning well with existing pharmacy operations, with emphasis on the integration into existing workflows and the leveraging of established patient relationships. Complexity: Key challenges involved navigating reimbursement processes, integrating cessation documentation into pharmacy systems, and tailoring services to diverse patient needs without overwhelming staff. Trialability: Pharmacies experimented with different approaches to service delivery, from in-the-moment counseling to scheduled follow-up sessions, adapting strategies based on patient and staff feedback. Observability: Successes were shared within the pharmacy team and with the wider network, including patient success stories and the impact on pharmacy engagement, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Conclusions: Community pharmacies can expand patients’ access to tobacco cessation services. Despite facing several challenges, pharmacies successfully initiated cessation services with variable delivery and follow-up practices. Addressing systemic barriers related to billing, documentation, and tailored training can further empower pharmacies to contribute significantly to public health efforts against tobacco use.