eCite Digital Repository
Physician counseling of patients when prescribing nicotine replacement therapy
Citation
Shiffman, S and Ferguson, SG and Hellebusch, SJ, Physician counseling of patients when prescribing nicotine replacement therapy, Addictive Behaviours, 32, (4) pp. 728-7339. ISSN 0306-4603 (2007) [Refereed Article]
![]() | PDF Restricted - Request a copy 145Kb |
Copyright Statement
The definitive version is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.06.021
Abstract
Aims: Nicotine patches and gum are now available without a prescription in many countries. Some have expressed concern that allowing access to these medications without a prescription may deprive smokers of the instruction and support they would otherwise have received from their physician. We assessed the value of physician involvement in NRT prescription.
Design and Participants: We analyzed data interviews from 993 subjects who had filled prescriptions for patch (n = 669) or gum (n = 324) about physician behavior when prescribing patch and gum when these were available only by prescription.
Findings: 82% of smokers actually met with the physician; however, only 67% received some instruction in using the medication; only 50% were told about potential side effects; and substantial fractions were prescribed a dose that differed from that recommended on the usage instructions (patch: 24%; gum: 33%). Participants who received no intervention from their physicians were significantly more likely to be abstinent than those participants who received smoking cessation advice and support, likely because physicians offered help to those who most needed it, biasing the association.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that physicians did not typically perform the helpful behaviors often expected of them or attributed to them.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | smoking cessation, nicotine replacement, over-the-counter medication |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Public health |
Research Field: | Preventative health care |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Ferguson, SG (Professor Stuart Ferguson) |
ID Code: | 57257 |
Year Published: | 2007 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 13 |
Deposited By: | Pharmacy |
Deposited On: | 2009-07-01 |
Last Modified: | 2015-09-01 |
Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page