Electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes) as a smoking cessation aid: A survey among pharmacy staff in Queensland, Australia.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a survey conducted among pharmacy staff in Queensland, Australia regarding their views on the safety and regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes) as a smoking cessation aid. The survey aimed to gather information on pharmacy staff's perception of the harms of e-cigarettes compared to nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) and conventional cigarettes, as well as their knowledge and attitudes towards the regulation of e-cigarettes in Australia.

Key Points:

* The survey was conducted among 64 pharmacists and 76 pharmacy assistants in the greater Brisbane region of Queensland, Australia.
* Over 90% of pharmacy staff regarded e-cigarettes without nicotine and NRTs as less harmful than regular tobacco cigarettes. However, this reduced to 72% for e-cigarettes containing nicotine, with 24% of respondents believing they are equally as harmful as conventional cigarettes.
* Few respondents were confident about the short and long term safety of e-cigarettes containing nicotine (36% and 15% respectively), whereas pharmacy staff were more comfortable with the safety of NRTs for short (88%) and long term (35%) use.
* The majority of respondents believed that e-cigarettes with nicotine should be regulated as a medicine, either requiring a prescription (24%) or sold only by pharmacies (22%).
* Some pharmacy staff (39%) reported having been asked about e-cigarettes by customers and 75% believed that their customers would be interested in using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.

Main Message:
The survey highlights the need for evidence-based and customised education for pharmacists regarding e-cigarettes to help them guide their clients. The results indicate that pharmacy staff have varying levels of knowledge and confidence in the safety and regulation of e-cigarettes, and many indicate the need for more information. It is important for pharmacists to stay informed about the latest research and regulations related to e-cigarettes in order to provide accurate and helpful advice to their customers.

Erku DA, Gartner CE, Do JT, Morphett K, Steadman KJ. Electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes) as a smoking cessation aid: A survey among pharmacy staff in Queensland, Australia. Addictive Behaviors. 2019;91:227-233. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.09.013