PREVALENCE OF SMOKING AND ATTITUDE TOWARD SMOKING CESSATION AMONG COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS, SAUDI ARABIA
Mohammed Nasir Al-Arifi

BACKGROUND: Although the percentage of the population that smokes has declined in the US and other countries, it is increasing in Third World countries. In Saudi Arabia, despite warnings on every packet of cigarettes indicating health hazards related to smoking, this habit is increasing rapidly, particularly among the younger population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and risk factors of smoking among community pharmacists and explore their attitudes toward issues related to smoking cessation.

METHODS: A survey was conducted in November 2003 in community pharmacies in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Community pharmacies were randomly selected from the Ministry of Health Registers List. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection.

RESULTS: The survey revealed a 19.9% prevalence rate of cigarette smoking among community pharmacists. Lung diseases, including cancer, and cardiovascular diseases were mentioned as the main risk factors of cigarette smoking. The majority of the surveyed pharmacists agreed with banning smoking in common places, and they are willing to support patients who want to quit smoking. They also believe that the pharmacist can play a positive role in smoking cessation.

CONCLUSIONS: Although pharmacists who participated in this survey were fully aware of the health hazards related to smoking, we found that their activities in promotion of smoking cessation were far from exemplary. Based on these findings, there is a need to put more emphasis on pharmacists to devote time for anti-smoking counseling.

J Pharm Technol 2004;20:329-33.