Table 2 Characteristics of included studies
Study (year), country | Study design | Sample size | Retention rate | Targeted care type | Intervention categorya | Outcome measures | Outcome assessment | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basheti (2009), Australia | RCT | IG = 16 CG = 15 | 6 months: IG 15/15 CG 12/16 (87%) 2 years: 12/16 9/15 (67%) | Asthma inhalers | 1, 2, 4 | Pharmacists’ technique demonstration skills | A researcher assessed pharmacists using a scale of 0–9 | 3 and 6 months and 2 years after training |
Chalker (2005), Vietnam and Thailand | Cluster RCT | Hanoi IG = 34 CG = 34 Bangkok IG = 39 CG = 39 | Hanoi 28/34 27/34 (81%) Bangkok IG 34/39 CG 35/39 (91%) | Antibiotic/oral steroids | 1, 2, 3, 5 | Illegal dispensing of prescription and asking questions and giving advice | Simulated patient visits | 3 months after each intervention |
Chuc (2002), Vietnam | Cluster RCT | IG = 34 CG = 34 | IG 29/34 CG 29/34 (85%) | Antibiotic/oral steroids/STD/ARI | 2, 3, 5, 6 | ARI: not dispensing antibiotics and asking about breathing STD: advice to go to the doctor and dispensing the correct treatment Antibiotic and steroids: prescription request | Simulated patient visits | 1 month after each intervention |
de Almeida Neto (2000), Australia (1) | RCT | IG = 15 CG = 15 | IG13/15 CG14/15 (90%) | Non-prescription analgesics | 1, 4, 6 | Observations on 11 pharmacists behaviour measures such as the use of open-ended questions | Audiotaped simulated patient visits | 6 weeks |
de Almeida Neto (2000), Australia (2) | RCT | IG = 16 CG = 8 | IG 14/16 CG 8/8 (92%) | Non-prescription analgesic | 1, 4, 6 | Observations on 9 pharmacists behaviour measures such as asking if the if the consumer had used the medication before | Simulated patient visits | 14 weeks |
Dolovich (2007), Canada | RCT | IG = 33 CG = 31 | IG 29/33 CG 30/31 (92%) | Asthma treatment | 1, 2 | The number of pharmacists-facilitated plans Pharmacists’ general communication skills using the Global Rating Scale | Simulated patient visits | 3–5 weeks |
Garcia (1998), Peru | Cluster RCT | IG = 90 CG = 90 | IG 86/90 CG 88/90 (97%) | Sexually transmitted diseases | 1, 2 | Symptoms recognition, offering of recommended treatment, patient referral and education and counselling frequency | Simulated patient visits | 2–3 months |
Garcia (2003), Peru | Cluster RCT | IG = 884; 750 finished training CG = 883 | IG 100 and CG 100 from each group were assessed | Sexually transmitted diseases | 1, 2, 3 | Symptoms recognition, offering of adequate management, recommend use of condoms, recommend treatment of partner, patient referral and education and counselling frequency | Simulated patient visits | 1, 3, and 6 months |
Kimberlin (1993), USA | RCT | IG = 57 CG = 45 (762 elderly patients) | (100%) | Drug-related problems in elderly | 1, 2 | Drug use variable reports of pharmacist patient care activities, patients’ knowledge about the drug, adherence, and drug therapy problems | Patient-reported assessment | 1 and 3 months |
Lalonde (2008), Canada | Cluster RCT | IG = 22 CG = 20 | IG 14/22 CG 15/20 (69%) 88/102 (86%) pharmacists | Drug-related problems in kidney disease patient | 1, 7 | The numbers of pharmacists’ written recommendations to physicians (pharmaceutical opinions), refusals to dispense a medication, the number and description of requests to the consultation service, and pharmacists’ satisfaction with the programme | The community pharmacy dispensing chart and satisfaction questionnaire | 6 months |
Mayer (1998), USA | Cluster RCT | IG = 27 CG = 27 | IG = 27/27 CG = 27/27 (100%) | Skin cancer | 2, 4 | The rate of skin cancer prevention counselling | Simulated patient visits | 3 weeks |
Patwardhan (2012), USA | Cluster RCT | IG = 8 CG = 8 | IG 8/8 CG 8/8 (100%) | Smoking cessation | 1, 2, 3 | Number of customers asked about tobacco use, number of tobacco users advised to quit, number of users enrolled in the quit line via Fax to Quit (active referral), and number of quit line cards given (passive referral). Pharmacists self-efficacy was also measured | The quit line’s Fax to Quit reports and the pharmacists self-report | 1 month |
Prokhorov (2010), USA | Cluster RCT | IG = 45 CG = 38 | IG 39/45 CG 36/38 (90%) | Smoking cessation | 1 | Pharmacists counselling activities for each of the 5 A’s counselling practice model: ask, advice, assess, assist, and arrange. Pharmacists’ perceived ability, confidence, and intention (ACI) to address counselling activity | Patient-reported assessments and pharmacists self-report | 12 months |
Reeves (2007), Australia | Cluster RCT | IG = 31 CG = 21 | IG 31/31 CG 21/21 (100%) | Aspirin in eligible patients with diabetes | 6, 8 | The rate of clinical interventions | Pharmacists electronic documentation | 6 weeks + weeks post-intervention |
Sigrist (2002), Switzerland | RCT | IG = 14 CG = 13 | IG 14/14 CG 13/14 (100%) | Non-prescription analgesics | 1, 4 | Improvement on 15 attributes related to non-prescription services | Audiotaped simulated patient visits | 2 months |
Sinclair (1998), Scotland | Cluster RCT | IG = 31 CG = 31 | IG 31/31 CG 29/31 (97%) | Smoking cessation | 1 | The perceptions of customers and pharmacy personnel of the pharmacy support and self-reported smoking cessation rates | Patient-reported assessments | 1, 4, and 9 months |
Watson (2002), Scotland | Cluster RCT | IG 1 = 15 IG 2 = 15 IG 3 = 15 CG = 15 | IG 1 15/15 IG 2 15/15 IG 3 15/15 CG 15/15 (100%) | Vulvovaginal candidiasis | 1, 3, 6 | The appropriate sale or non-sale of over the counter antifungal (based upon the guidelines) | Simulated patient visits | 5–8 months |