A community-based pharmacist-led smoking cessation program, before elective total joint replacement surgery, markedly enhances smoking cessation rates

INTRODUCTION We compared smoking cessation outcomes between those who used a pharmacist-led community-based smoking cessation intervention and those who did not, prior to total joint replacement (TJR) surgery. Also, we examined intervention characteristics (e.g. number/duration of sessions attended, recommended therapy) and smoking cessation outcomes. METHODS This prospective evaluation was nested within a comparative study from a centralized clinic that prepares over 3000 patients annually for TJR and focused on participants referred to the community-based smoking cessation program preoperatively. Pharmacists offered an individualized evidence-based intervention and collected visit, duration and intervention data. Smoking cessation, the primary outcome, was ascertained independently of participating pharmacists at 6 weeks post-operative using exhaled CO monitoring and at 6 months post-recruitment via telephone interview. RESULTS Of 286 eligible candidates, 104 agreed to participate, with one subsequently withdrawing (n=103). At 6 weeks post-operatively, 66/103 (64%) participants returned for study re-assessment while 63/103 (61%) participants completed the post-recruitment interview at 6 months; non-respondents to study follow-up were considered smokers. Of 103 participants, 58 (56%) consulted with a pharmacist; those who did not consult a pharmacist (n=45) were slightly younger (p=0.02) with significantly higher CO level (p=0.02) on study entry. Validated 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 6 weeks post-operative was 11/58 (19%) in pharmacist-compliant participants compared to 2/45 (4%) in non-compliant participants (p=0.04). At 6 months post-recruitment, 19/58 (33%) pharmacist-compliant participants self-reported a 7-day PPA compared to 2/45 (4%) by non-compliant participants (p<0.001). For pharmacist-compliant participants, 33/58 (54%) saw the pharmacist 4 times; the mean overall pharmacist time was 71.8 +/- 24.4 minutes/patient with 26/58 (45%) and 19/58 (33%) prescribed nicotine replacement therapy and varenicline, respectively, and 13/58 (22%) not using medication; post hoc analysis suggested varenicline was marginally more effective for smoking cessation than no medication (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS Community-based pharmacist-led smoking cessation programs are an effective addition to usual preoperative care for smokers awaiting elective TJR. Using existing community resources led to higher smoking cessation rates in smokers waiting for TJR relative to those not using these resources.