Survey on Heated Tobacco Products in Smoking Prevention Education by School Pharmacists / 社会薬学

ABSTRACT

The number of heated tobacco product users is increasing rapidly in Japan; thus, smoking prevention education that includes heated tobacco products is necessary. To clarify the current status and issues related to smoking prevention education programs for school pharmacists, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 300 school pharmacists. The response rate was 45.3% (136/300). Smoking prevention education was provided by 42.6% (58/136) of school pharmacists. Among them, 56.9% (33/58) included heated tobacco products in their education programs. Moreover, 75.9% (44/58) of pharmacists also provided support for smoking cessation at pharmacies, and 93.1% (54/58) of pharmacists felt the necessity of providing support for smoking cessation for heated tobacco product users at pharmacies. On the other hand, 21.8% (17/78) of school pharmacists who did not provide smoking prevention education responded that they did not have sufficient information and knowledge about heated tobacco products. In addition, among these pharmacists, 53.8% (42/78) did not provide support for smoking cessation at pharmacies. Although both groups felt the need for the smoking prevention education provided by school pharmacists, the school pharmacists who provided such education felt the need more strongly. Regarding the necessity of including the taking up of heated tobacco products in smoking prevention education, it was found that pharmacists who provided such programs felt the necessity more strongly. It is important to obtain accurate information about heated tobacco products and change the content to unified educational in cooperation with schoolteachers to enhance smoking prevention education by school pharmacists.