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Evaluation of a peer support scheme for community pharmacy smoking cessation
Seher Kayikci, Smoking Cessation and Prevention Manager & Delphine Grynszpan, Islington PCT
Abstract
Islington PCT has been operating a scheme since 2000 that allows trained pharmacists to offer stop smoking advice and dispense NRT to their clients as a one-stop-shop. However there were considerable variations between pharmacists in terms of the number of people using the service and quit rates.
A peer-support project was set up to improve the service. The project aimed to increase the number of four-week quitters and to enhance communication between the PCT and front line pharmacists. Three pharmacists were trained as mentors to provide support to other pharmacists and their staff. Mentors were well-respected members of the Local Pharmaceutical Committee. The training included communication skills, the service protocol and expected outcomes. Each mentor was allocated ten pharmacists. Mentors were required to provide regular updates following visits to each pharmacist, including quit rates, an action report and feedback.
The project was evaluated between April 06 and March 07. We analysed mentors’ ‘feedback sheets’ and quit rates. A questionnaire was distributed to the pharmacists who received peer-support. Mentors were asked to provide reflections on their learning from the process.
The proportion of quitters coming from pharmacists increased. Ten new pharmacists trained as Level 2 advisers and joined the scheme during the project. Communication between the PCT and pharmacists improved immensely. The PCT produced pharmacy specific promotional materials. A database was developed to reduce paperwork and to ensure accurate payments.
Biography
Seher Kayikci completed her Psychology degree in Turkey and has been managing the Islington Stop Smoking Team since 1999. Currently she is studying for an MSc in Public Health and Health Promotion. Her main area of interest is in pharmacy based smoking cessation. Previously she worked as a Health Promotion Officer for Camden & Islington Community Health Trust. Her drama project, aimed at raising awareness of smoking among Turkish speaking communities, won the Health Alliance award in 1997.
Delphine Grynszpan is a Specialist Registrar in Public Health at Islington PCT, where she collaborates with Seher Kayikci on several smoke free projects. Before coming to Islington PCT, Delphine worked at Surrey HPU, Guildford & Waverley PCT and as a medical editor on several research journals. She trained in medicine and social science in France. In 2005 she obtained a Masters in Public Health fro the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. For this presentation Delphine contributed to the data analysis and writing up of the study.
Seher Kayikci
Islington PCT
338 - 346 Goswell Road
London
EC1V 7LQ
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