On 2017 Feb 18, Clive Bates commented:

So we learn from this study that pharmacists demand:

training in the form of information packs (88%), online tutorials (67%), continuous professional development (CPD) workshops (43%) to cover safety, counselling, dosage instructions, adverse effects and role in the smoking cessation care pathway in the future.

But how many of them have made use of the existing resources already provided by the UK National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, in particular, its excellent E-cigarettes: a briefing for stop smoking services, 2016. This is readable and accessible and easily found by anyone with a professional interest.

If they wanted to go into the issue more deeply, there is the Royal College of Physicians report, Nicotine without smoke: tobacco harm reduction, 2016 which provides a scientific assessment for UK health professionals, and concludes:

that e-cigarettes are likely to be beneficial to UK public health. Smokers can therefore be reassured and encouraged to use them, and the public can be reassured that e-cigarettes are much safer than smoking.

As they are selling these products, isn't there a legitimate professional expectation that community pharmacists should make a modest effort to find out more about them? The survey reveals a disturbing level of ignorance and unscientific assertion and the demand for more training is the flip side of an admission of ignorance. A good question would have found out whether they have made any effort at all to resolve their uncertainties, for example by consulting the sources above.

On 2017 Feb 18, Clive Bates commented:

So we learn from this study that pharmacists demand:

training in the form of information packs (88%), online tutorials (67%), continuous professional development (CPD) workshops (43%) to cover safety, counselling, dosage instructions, adverse effects and role in the smoking cessation care pathway in the future.

But how many of them have made use of the existing resources already provided by the UK National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, in particular, its excellent E-cigarettes: a briefing for stop smoking services, 2016. This is readable and accessible and easily found by anyone with a professional interest.

If they wanted to go into the issue more deeply, there is the Royal College of Physicians report, Nicotine without smoke: tobacco harm reduction, 2016 which provides a scientific assessment for UK health professionals, and concludes:

that e-cigarettes are likely to be beneficial to UK public health. Smokers can therefore be reassured and encouraged to use them, and the public can be reassured that e-cigarettes are much safer than smoking.

As they are selling these products, isn't there a legitimate professional expectation that community pharmacists should make a modest effort to find out more about them? The survey reveals a disturbing level of ignorance and unscientific assertion and the demand for more training is the flip side of an admission of ignorance. A good question would have found out whether they have made any effort at all to resolve their uncertainties, for example by consulting the sources above.