The handbooks were published to mark World No Tobacco Day on 31 May.
The handbook has been developed in collaboration with an international group of experts from various organisations, including the World Health Organisation. The handbook outlines the latest evidence-based practices, techniques and strategies for pharmacists to help people who wish to quit smoking. It includes guidance on how to conduct patient assessments, design treatment plans, support behavioural change, select appropriate medicines to manage withdrawal symptoms and monitor progress, as well as covering other aspects such as health promotion, patient education and referral, and interprofessional collaboration.
“The information contained in this handbook is practicable and tailored to the needs of pharmacists. Using this new resource from FIP, pharmacists can contribute to improving public health and reducing the large burden of tobacco use on our healthcare systems,” said Dr Inês Nunes da Cunha, FIP practice development and transformation projects manager, and a co-author of the handbook.
The new handbook is accompanied by a publication describing the knowledge and skills required for the delivery of pharmacist-led interventions to support tobacco cessation in addition to other modifiable NCD risk factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol.
Supporting tobacco cessation and the treatment of tobacco dependence: A handbook for pharmacists is available at fip.org/file/5553.
The FIP knowledge and skills reference guide for professional development in tobacco cessation and other risk factors in NCDs, is a companion to the handbook, and is available at fip.org/file/5554.
