Common conditions and their treatment options

This module has been endorsed with the NPA’s Training Seal as suitable for use by medicines counter assistants as part of their ongoing learning. Complete the questions at the end to include in your self-development portfolio

Welcome to TM’s OTC Treatment Clinic series. In each issue, TM covers a different OTC treatment area to help you keep up-to-date with the latest product developments. Here, we focus on daily fatigue and stress. At the end of the module are multiple choice questions for you to complete, so your progress can be monitored in your learning log.

Smoking cessation

Author: Jane Feely, PhD

Objectives: After studying this module, assistants will: 

• Be familiar with current statistics relating to smoking in the UK, the risks associated with this habit and the benefits of quitting
• Be aware of harm reduction in relation to smoking cessation
• Understand that smokers are addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes and that quitting leads to symptoms of withdrawal
• Be familiar with therapeutic nicotine and how it can be used as part of a quit strategy
• Know the different forms of therapeutic nicotine and which may be the most appropriate for specific smokers
• Be able to suggest ways to help a smoker prepare to stop smoking and how to quit successfully.