Question

What is the role of Pharmacist in smoking cessation and obesity?

Answer 1

Role of pharmacist in smoking cessation:

Since they have very good opportunities to aid smokers in quitting smoking at clinics or pharmacies, pharmacists play an important role in encouraging smoking cessation. They should be aware of the significance of tobacco abstinence. Therapeutic assistance for cessation includes drug treatment of nicotine dependence and counseling based on behavioural science for psychological dependence. Particularly in drug treatment, pharmacists are able to exercise their professional knowledge by assisting smoking cessation from a pharmaceutical view point. It is possible for any pharmacist to provide a brief smoking cessation intervention , such as asking a patient whether or not they smoke and advising them, if they smoke, to stop smoking.

Role of pharmacist in obesity:

Obesity rates have increased over the last two decades. Based on NHANES data, 68.8% of US adults are classified as overweight or obese. obesity increases the risk of diseases and can contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. This review examines studies published in which pharmacists have provided weight management services alone or in a team. The electronic databases OVID Medline, international pharmaceutical abstracts and EMBASE (1946-2014) were searched. Nine articles were identified in which pharmacists delivered a weight management service either alone or in a team, and eight studies collected outcomes . six studies evaluated the participants weight loss or satisfaction with the service, and two studies evaluated weight loss associated with a meal replacement program . The outcomes from these studies are limited and while positive, have failed to provide significant evidence of the impact of pharmacists providing these services . More randomised controlled trials are needed to document weight management services.