Table 1 Description of key general characteristics of included papers

[67] Al Hamarneh

MTM

Canada/2017/ 3 months

n = 573; IG (n = 286) and CG (n = 287)

To evaluate the effect of pharmacist case finding and intervention program on estimated cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with diabetes.

Primary:

Difference and change in estimated CV risk (validated risk-assessment equation) between IG and CG.

Secondary

Differences between groups in changes of: HbA1c, LDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure and tobacco cessation, medication use and dose changes, lifestyle habits and CV risk and risk factors.

[51] Armour

DSM asthma/MTM

Australia/2013/ 6 months

n = 570; IG (n = 292) and CG (n = 278)

To test the feasibility, effectiveness and sustainability of an asthma service.

Primary:

Asthma control (validated assessment equation- ACQ-), inhaler technique and health - related quality of life.

[49] Costello

Smoking cessation

Canada/2010/3 months

n = 6987; IG (Group A (n = 3588) and Group B (n = 3399))

To evaluate the effectiveness of two models of smoking cessation that included nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

Primary:

Abstinence at end-of-treatment determined by self-report.

[67] Elliot

NMS

England/2017/ 14 months

n = 504; IG (n = 251) and CG (n = 253)

To examine the effectiveness of the NMS in people starting a new medicine for a long-term condition.

Primary:

Adherence (validated assessment equation), health status (quality of life), medicines understanding and National Health System (NHS) cost.

[69] Geurts

CMR/MTM

Netherlands/2016/12 months

n = 512; IG (n = 248) and CG (n = 264)

To determine whether a medication review followed by a pharmaceutical care plan decreases potential DRPs and pharmaceutical care issues (PCIs), along with a positive effect on cardiovascular risk factors and safety parameters for elderly polypharmacy patients with a cardiovascular disorder.

Primary:

Resolved DRPs and PCIs.

Secondary:

Differences in clinical and lab values

[70] Planas

MTM

United States/2012/ 9 months

n = 65; IG (n = 38) and CG (n = 27)

To evaluate the efficacy of a community- based, pharmacist-directed diabetes management program among managed care organization enrolees using National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)–Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) performance measures.

Primary:

HbA1c (< 7.0%), blood pressure (< 130/80 mmHg), and LDL cholesterol (< 100 mg/dL).

A composite research outcome of success was created by determining whether a participant achieved two of the three goals at the end of 9 months.

[71] Rubio-Valera

Dispensing /Adherence service

Spain/2013/6 months

n = 179; IG (n = 87) and CG (n = 92)

To evaluate the effectiveness of a community pharmacist intervention (CPI) compared with usual care in improvement of adherence to antidepressants and patient well-being in a population initiating pharmacological treatment following diagnosis of depression.

Primary:

Adherence to antidepressants, clinical severity of depression, health-related quality of life and satisfaction with pharmacy care.

[72] Stewart

Adherence service

Australia/2014/ 6 months

n = 395; IG (n = 207) and CG (n = 188)

To evaluate a community pharmacist intervention to improve adherence with antihypertensive medicines with a view to improving blood pressure (BP) control.

Primary:

Change in proportion self-reporting medication adherence (validated questionnaire).

Secondary:

BP changes and the proportion of self-reporting adherence on the Tool for Adherence Behaviour Screening (TABS).

[73] Tommelein

PC/MTM

Belgium/2013/ 3 months

n = 734; IG (n = 371), CG (n = 363)

To test the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical care programme in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the community pharmacist educational intervention.

Primary:

Improvement of the inhalation technique, and medication adherence,

Secondary:

Reduction of Dyspnoea, severe exacerbations and emergency visits or hospitalization.

Improvement of generic health status (quality of life) and disease- specific health status - COPD Assessment Test (CAT)-.

[74] Tsuyuki

Independent prescribing

Canada/2015/ 6 months

n = 248; IG (n = 181), CG (n = 67)

To study the impact of pharmacist prescribing on blood pressure (BP) control in community-dwelling patients.

Primary:

Difference in change of systolic BP from baseline to 6 months between IG and CG.

Secondary:

Change in diastolic BP. Number of: patients at their target BP after 6 months, new antihypertensive medication, dose changes, drug changes, new prescriptions for ASA and cholesterol lowering medications.

[75] Verdoorn

CMR/ MTM

Netherlands/2019/ 6 months

n = 629; IG (n = 315) and CG (n = 314)

To investigate the effect of a patient -centred CMR, focused on personal goals, on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), and on number of health problems.

Primary:

HR-QoL (assessed with EuroQoL [EQ]-5D-5L and EQ-Visual Analogue Scale [VAS])

Number of health problems, after 3 and 6 months.

Secondary:

Number of: long-term medications, prescribed drugs added and ceased. Severity of complaints measured with VAS scores and healthcare consumption.

[76] Zillich

Telephone MTM

USA/2014/ 3 months

n = 961; IG (n = 475) and CG (n = 486)

To evaluate the effectiveness of a telephonic MTM service on reducing hospitalizations among home health patients.

Primary:

60-day all-cause hospitalization.

Secondary:

The effect of hospitalization while adjusting for patients’ baseline risk. Number of medications taken daily. DRP identified. Pharmacist’s recommendations. Physician’s response.