Perceptions of pharmacist-furnished nicotine replacement therapy among participants who smoke in California

Sara Schneider; Arturo Durazo; Sarina Rodriguez; Alec M Chan-Golston; Tanner Wakefield; Deanna M Halliday; Darrin Tracy; Anna V Song; Dorie E Apollonio

doi:10.1016/j.japh.2025.102450

Perceptions of pharmacist-furnished nicotine replacement therapy among participants who smoke in California

J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2025 Jun 12:102450. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2025.102450. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sara Schneider¹, Arturo Durazo², Sarina Rodriguez³, Alec M Chan-Golston⁴, Tanner Wakefield⁵, Deanna M Halliday⁶, Darrin Tracy⁷, Anna V Song⁸, Dorie E Apollonio⁹

Affiliations

¹ Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center, Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, Merced CA USA.
² Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center, Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, Merced CA USA; Assistant Professor of Public Health; Director of the Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center; Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California Merced,Merced,California,USA.
³ Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California Merced,Merced,California,USA.
⁴ Assistant Professor of Public Health; Director of the Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center; Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California Merced,Merced,California,USA; Biostatistics and Data Support Center, Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, Merced CA USA.
⁵ UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco CA USA; School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA USA.
⁶ UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco CA USA.
⁷ Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, Merced, Merced CA USA.
⁸ Professor of Psychology; Associate Vice Provost for Academic Personnel; Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center, Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, Merced CA USA; Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California Merced,Merced,California,USA; Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California, Merced, Merced CA USA.
⁹ Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center, Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, Merced CA USA; School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA USA; Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: dorie.apollonio@ucsf.edu.

PMID: 40516918
DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2025.102450

Abstract

Background and objective: California's Central Valley has high rates of tobacco product use and low rates of access to primary care providers. In 2016, California sought to increase access to cessation treatment by allowing pharmacists to prescribe nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). We sought to identify the extent to which this prescribing authority has been integrated into practice.

Methods: From December 2023 to May 2024, we surveyed adult California participants (n = 271) who smoke about their smoking patterns, perceptions towards NRT, experiences with receiving tobacco cessation resources in pharmacies. Participants were recruited via email and in person. We analyzed participants' smoking and quitting history, perceptions of NRT, and experiences with tobacco cessation , comparing residents of California's Central Valley (n = 52) to other regions of the state (n = 219).

Results: Smoking rates were comparable for respondents in the Central Valley and those residing in other regions of California, although older respondents tended to smoke more heavily. Respondents had few positive perceptions regarding NRT and expressed concerns about perceived side effects and the risk of dependency; past use of NRT was also associated with lower odds of quitting.

Conclusions: Despite the low risks and high efficacy of prescription NRT for tobacco cessation, participants in our sample expressed concerns about its perceived side effects, potential for dependency, and a belief that it was not useful. Our findings suggest that additional efforts are needed to improve education about NRT, such as via pharmacist-provided tobacco cessation services.

Keywords: Delivery of Health Care; Health Services Accessibility; Nicotine Replacement Therapy; Pharmacists; Smoking Cessation; Surveys and Questionnaires.