SIRCHCS304
Advise on smoking cessation

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to advise customers on products, services and self-care practices that will assist them in managing smoking cessation.

Application

This unit applies to community pharmacy employees working as pharmacy assistants or dispensary assistants. Pharmacy assistants work directly with customers and may suggest Pharmacy Medicines or unscheduled medicines and products to aid smoking cessation. In situations where customers require referral to a pharmacist for therapeutic advice, or where the supply of Pharmacist Only Medicines or products is required, the pharmacy assistant gathers information, refers the customer on, and then supports the pharmacist by finalising the supply of medicines and products.


Prerequisites

SIRCHCS201

Support the supply of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1. Develop knowledge of smoking cessation.

1.1.Identify effects likely to be encountered by customers during smoking cessation.

1.2.Identify and access sources of information, specialist services and practitioners.

1.3.Identify and locate the pharmacy range of smoking cessation medication and aids.

2. Identify customer smoking cessation needs.

2.1.Follow pharmacy protocols and procedures to identify the customer and their needs and symptoms, including duration and severity.

2.2.Determine extent of nicotine dependence, and what medicines and products have been tried to assist smoking cessation.

2.3.Follow pharmacy protocols to identify triggers for referral to a pharmacist.

2.4.Follow pharmacy procedures to respect and protect customer privacy.

3. Provide information on products and support services relating to smoking cessation.

3.1.Finalise supply of scheduled medicines and products to customers, or after pharmacist provision of therapeutic advice where required.

3.2.Provide customers with information on lifestyle, self-care practices and specialist services to support smoking cessation.

3.3.Recommend nicotine replacement products that can be sold without the involvement of a pharmacist.

3.4.Provide customer with information and directions for product use.

3.5.Identify and act on opportunities to suggest companion products relevant to desired health-care outcomes.

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to:

interact with the customer to:

ask questions to identify and confirm requirements

provide information

confirm understanding

explain pharmacy smoking cessation support services

recommend and supply medicines, information, aids and equipment to assist with smoking cessation

provide advice on lifestyle, self-care practices, specialist services and practitioners

refer to a pharmacist or other pharmacy staff where relevant

use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences

use and interpret non-verbal communication

learning skills to maintain currency of knowledge about smoking cessation medicines and aids that can be sold with and without the involvement of a pharmacist

literacy skills to:

follow pharmacy procedures

interpret product and self-care information

use specialist information and services to support conditions relating to smoking cessation

teamwork skills to operate as part of a pharmacy team, providing relevant information and seeking advice from a pharmacist and other pharmacy staff as required

technical skills to demonstrate use of smoking cessation products

technology skills to access and use online information relating to smoking cessation

Required knowledge

common behavioural triggers that can contribute to smoking and barriers to quitting smoking

components of smoking cessation kits available in the pharmacy

interaction of nicotine with other medications

personal role boundaries and responsibilities, and circumstances under which referral to a pharmacist or other pharmacy staff is required

pharmacy protocols and procedures relating to the supply of smoking cessation medicines, aids, kits and equipment, including:

collecting required information from customers

collecting and supplying information to an agent acting on behalf of a customer

identifying and acting on triggers for referral to a pharmacist

identifying and supplying the relevant medicines, information, aids and equipment to meet customer needs

respecting and protecting customer privacy

physiological effects of smoking and common symptoms of smoking and smoking-related illness

characteristics of nicotine dependence and triggers that contribute to smoking

pharmacy range of smoking cessation medicines and products and basic understanding of modes of action, including:

nicotine replacement products that can be sold without the involvement of a pharmacist

Prescription Only Medicines available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

principles of evidence-based assessment as they apply to assessing the efficacy of medicines used to support smoking cessation

awareness of credible sources of information on product range

product and health condition terminology

side effects resulting from use of smoking cessation products

known short and long-term health effects of active and passive smoking

sources of information, advice and specialist services relating to smoking cessation

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

follow pharmacy procedures when selling medicines, aids and equipment relating to smoking cessation

apply knowledge of nicotine dependence, triggers that contribute to smoking, barriers to quitting smoking, and side effects resulting from use of smoking cessation products when making recommendations to customers

identify and refer to relevant sources of information to assist the customer and maintain currency of personal knowledge

provide information to customers in ways appropriate to customer needs and demonstrating appropriate techniques to confirm understanding

recognise and act on situations or requests requiring referral to a pharmacist.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure that competency is:

observed by the assessor or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor as described in the assessment guidelines

demonstrated across a range of customers over sufficient time to include handling of a range of contingencies

demonstrated in a real or simulated pharmacy environment, which may include customer interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the pharmacy.

Assessment must ensure access to:

a range of real or simulated customers with different smoking cessation related requirements

a range of smoking cessation products and aids

relevant pharmacy protocols and procedures

relevant documentation, such as:

self-care and lifestyle advice

smoking cessation product and service information.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of the candidate in the workplace:

seeking information to establish customer requirements

recommending and selling smoking cessation related medicines, aids and equipment to a range of customers

identifying and acting on triggers for referral to a pharmacist

written or oral questions appropriate to the language and literacy level of the learner to test relevant underpinning knowledge

role plays to confirm communication skills to meet diverse customer requirements

review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Sources of information, specialist services and practitioners may include:

doctors

National Tobacco Strategy

pharmacist

pharmacy or supplier product leaflets, brochures and manuals

manufacturer information

other health-care specialists

relevant websites, such as Quit

support organisations.

Smoking cessation medication and aids may include:

nicotine replacement products that can be sold without the involvement of a pharmacist, such as:

patches

gums

lozenges

tablets

inhalers

prescription medicines available under the PBS

audio and video resources.

Pharmacy protocols and procedures may include:

interacting with the customer to establish:

who the product is for

symptoms

duration of symptoms

other existing health conditions

other medications being used by the customer

assessing:

customer responses to questions

own confidence that the product or service requested by the customer or envisaged by the pharmacy assistant is right for the customer’s symptoms.

Customer may include people:

from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying mental and physical abilities

visiting the pharmacy, contacting the pharmacy by phone, or in their own home

with special needs, such as:

the elderly

infants

who are:

drug or alcohol affected

emotionally unstable

mentally unstable

physically unwell.

Triggers for referral to a pharmacist must include:

customer who is:

a child under 2

an aged person

pregnant or breastfeeding

taking other medicines

customer who has:

other health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure

used the product before but is not satisfied with its efficacy

customer appears to be:

sick

angry

confused

dissatisfied

uncertain

under the influence of drugs or alcohol

pharmacy assistant is unsure and needs confirmation of the medicine or product selected, even if the product has been requested by name

request for Pharmacist Only Medicine.

Scheduled medicinesmay include:

Pharmacy Medicines (S2)

Pharmacist Only Medicines(S3)

Prescription Only Medicines (S4).


Sectors

Community Pharmacy


Competency Field

Health Care Support


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

All relevant federal, state or territory legislation, Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines, and established practice and quality assurance standards are to be met relating to the promotion and sale of Pharmacy Medicines (S2) and Pharmacist Only Medicines (S3).