Le David, Saba Maya, Bhurawala Habib, Rahman Muhammad Aziz, Shah Smita, Saini Bandana
Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia.
The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2113, Australia.
Pharmacy (Basel). 2025 Jan 29;13(1):11. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy13010011.
Vaping, particularly the use of nicotine vaping products (NVPs), has emerged as a public health concern. The regulatory environment surrounding NVPs in Australia has rapidly evolved, shifting from a prescription-only model to availability through community pharmacies. Pharmacists play a critical role in addressing vaping-related health concerns. This study explores Australian pharmacists' perspectives on their professional roles and the support needed to manage vaping-related enquiries. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 practicing pharmacists using a topic guide developed from the current literature and team expertise. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using an inductive approach to identify key themes. Key themes included , , and . Pharmacists expressed significant uncertainty about the risks and harms associated with vaping. There was apprehension around the regulatory complexity of supplying NVPs, and participants called for greater education and support, particularly around NVP's place in smoking cessation and potential vaping cessation services. Effective public health messaging and risk communication about vaping are crucial. At the centre of recent legislative changes, pharmacists require training and professional support to address vaping-related scenarios and provide counselling that aligns with individual risk perceptions, ensuring NVP use is clinically appropriate.
吸电子烟，尤其是使用含尼古丁的电子烟产品（NVPs），已成为一个公共卫生问题。澳大利亚围绕NVPs的监管环境迅速演变，从仅需处方的模式转变为可通过社区药房获取。药剂师在解决与电子烟相关的健康问题方面发挥着关键作用。本研究探讨了澳大利亚药剂师对其专业角色的看法以及处理与电子烟相关咨询所需的支持。使用从当前文献和团队专业知识中制定的主题指南，对25名执业药剂师进行了定性半结构化访谈。访谈内容逐字记录，并采用归纳法进行主题分析以确定关键主题。关键主题包括 、 、 和 。药剂师对与吸电子烟相关的风险和危害表现出极大的不确定性。对于供应NVPs的监管复杂性存在担忧，参与者呼吁提供更多教育和支持，特别是关于NVPs在戒烟和潜在的电子烟戒烟服务中的地位。关于电子烟的有效公共卫生信息传递和风险沟通至关重要。在近期立法变革的核心，药剂师需要培训和专业支持来应对与电子烟相关的情况，并提供符合个人风险认知的咨询，确保NVPs的使用在临床上是适当的。
