An Observational Study of Nicotine Replacement Therapy Availability Through Pharmacist Prescribing in the California Central Valley.

ABSTRACT:

Background

California's Central Valley has high rates of tobacco product use and low rates of access to healthcare providers, making it difficult for residents to acquire effective tobacco cessation treatment. To address this disparity, California pharmacists can act as healthcare providers, with the ability to provide counseling and independently prescribe nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) medications through a process known as "furnishing".

Methods

All corporate and independent pharmacies in the Central Valley who serve the general community were contacted (n = 586) to ask whether pharmacists furnished NRT. The authors visited pharmacy locations (n = 23) that indicated they furnished NRT to request participation in a survey and interview. The authors analyzed if pharmacie

SUBMITTER: Halliday DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12536100 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature