Evaluating the Impact of a Structured Pharmacist-Led Smoking Cessation Program in a Tertiary Health Facility in Lagos State, South West Nigeria

Tobacco use is a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality globally, yet smoking cessation services remain largely absent from Nigerian healthcare facilities. Community and hospital pharmacists are ideally positioned to deliver brief smoking cessation counseling and pharmacotherapy support. This study evaluated the impact of a structured pharmacist-led smoking cessation program at a tertiary health facility in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A prospective interventional study enrolled 90 adult smokers attending the respiratory outpatient clinic who expressed motivation to quit. Participants received five structured pharmacist counseling sessions over three months, incorporating motivational interviewing, nicotine replacement therapy where indicated, and behavioral modification support. Primary outcome was self-reported and biochemically verified abstinence at three and six months. Secondary outcomes included number of quit attempts and reduction in daily cigarette consumption. Three-month abstinence was achieved by 38 percent of participants and six-month abstinence by 29 percent. Among non-abstainers, daily cigarette consumption decreased by a mean of 48 percent. Nicotine replacement therapy use was associated with significantly higher abstinence rates. Younger participants and those with fewer years of smoking history showed better quit outcomes. These results support the feasibility and effectiveness of pharmacist-led smoking cessation programs in Nigerian tertiary facilities. The study recommends formal integration of smoking cessation services into respiratory and cardiology outpatient pharmacist activities in Lagos State. Keywords: smoking cessation, pharmacist intervention, Lagos, nicotine replacement therapy, tobacco control