***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of psychotropic medication withdrawal and a home-based exercise program in reducing  falls in older people .  DESIGN A r and omized controlled trial with a two by two factorial design . SETTING Seventeen general practice s in Dunedin , New Zeal and . PARTICIPANTS Women and men aged 65 years registered with a general practitioner and currently taking psychotropic medication ( n = 93 ) . INTERVENTIONS Two interventions : ( 1 ) gradual withdrawal of psychotropic medication versus continuing to take psychotropic medication ( double blind ) and ( 2 ) a home-based exercise program versus no exercise program ( single blind ) . MEASUREMENTS Number of falls and falls risk during 44 weeks of follow-up . Analysis was on an intent to treat basis . RESULTS After 44 weeks , the relative hazard for falls in the medication withdrawal group compared with the group taking their original medication was .34 ( 95 % CI , .16-.74 ) . The risk of falling for the exercise program group compared with those not receiving the exercise program was not significantly reduced . CONCLUSIONS Withdrawal of psychotropic medication significantly reduced the risk of falling , but permanent withdrawal is very difficult to achieve OBJECTIVE To determine whether a new model of primary care , Chronic Care Clinics , can improve outcomes of common geriatric syndromes ( urinary incontinence , falls , depressive symptoms ,  high risk medications  ,  functional impairment ) in frail older adults . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial with 24 months of follow-up . Physician practice s were r and omized either to the Chronic Care Clinics intervention or to usual care . SETTING Nine primary care physician practice s that comprise an ambulatory clinic in a large staff-model HMO in western Washington State . PARTICIPANTS Those patients aged 65 and older in each practice with the highest risk for being hospitalized or experiencing functional decline . INTERVENTION Intervention practice s ( 5 physicians , 96 patients ) held half-day Chronic Care Clinics every 3 to 4 months . These clinics included an extended visit with the physician and nurse dedicated to planning chronic disease management ; a pharmacist visit that emphasized reduction of polypharmacy and high-risk medications ; and a patient self-management/support group . Control practice s ( 4 physicians , 73 patients ) received usual care . MEASUREMENTS Changes in self-reported urinary incontinence , frequency of falls , depressive symptoms , physical function , and satisfaction were analyzed using an intention-to-treat analysis adjusted for baseline differences , covariates , and practice -level variation . Prescriptions for high-risk medications and cost/utilization data obtained from administrative data were similarly analyzed . RESULTS After 24 months , no significant improvements in frequency of incontinence , proportion with falls , depression scores , physical function scores , or prescriptions for high risk medications were demonstrated . Costs of medical care including frequency of hospitalization , hospital days , emergency and ambulatory visits , and total costs of care were not significantly different between intervention and control groups . A higher proportion of intervention patients rated the overall quality of their medical care as excellent compared with control patients ( 40.0 % vs 25.3 % , P = .10 ) . CONCLUSIONS Although intervention patients expressed high levels of satisfaction with Chronic Care Clinics , improved outcomes for selected geriatric syndromes were not demonstrated . These findings suggest the need for developing greater system-wide support for managing geriatric syndromes in primary care and illustrate the challenges of conducting practice improvement research in a rapidly changing delivery system BACKGROUND Noncompliance is a major factor in the morbidity and unnecessary hospital readmissions for patients with heart failure . Several studies have aim ed to reduce rehospitalizations in heart failure patients through a comprehensive , multidisciplinary approach . Medication compliance was rarely measured in these studies or , when it was measured , the method employed was seldom valid . We aim ed at determining the effect of a pharmacist-led intervention on medication compliance in patients with heart failure . METHODS We conducted a r and omized controlled trial into the effect of a pharmacist-led intervention on medication compliance in patients with heart failure ( predominantly New York Heart Association [ NYHA ] II and III ) treated with loop diuretics , presenting to a cardiology outpatient clinic or admitted to hospitals in The Netherl and s. Patients in the intervention group received monthly consultations from their community pharmacist during a 6-month period . Patients in the control group received usual care . Primary endpoint was medication compliance , assessed with a medication event monitoring system , an electronic pill bottle that registers time of opening . Secondary endpoints were the number of rehospitalizations , death , and quality of life . RESULTS A total of 152 patients were r and omized : 74 patients to the intervention arm and 78 patients to the usual care arm . Over the 6-month study period , patients in the intervention group had 140/7656 days without use of loop diuretics compared with 337/6196 days in the usual care group ( relative risk 0.33 [ confidence interval ( CI ) 95 % 0.24 - 0.38 ] ) . Two consecutive days of nondosing occurred on 18/7656 days in the intervention group compared with 46/6196 days in the usual care group ( relative risk 0.32 [ CI 95 % 0.19 - 0.55 ] ) . There were no significant differences in rehospitalizations , mortality , or disease-specific quality of life between groups . CONCLUSIONS A pharmacy-led intervention can improve medication compliance in patients with moderate to severe heart failure , even in those with relatively high compliance . Future interventions should also focus at less compliant patients Abstract Objective : To assess the effect of a multifaceted intervention directed at general practitioners on six year mortality , morbidity , and risk factors of patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes . Design : Pragmatic , open , controlled trial with r and omisation of practice s to structured personal care or routine care ; analysis after 6 years . Setting : 311 Danish practice s with 474 general practitioners ( 243 in intervention group and 231 in comparison group ) . Participants : 874 ( 90.1 % ) of 970 patients aged ≥40 years who had diabetes diagnosed in 1989 - 91 and survived until six year follow up . Intervention : Regular follow up and individualised goal setting supported by prompting of doctors , clinical guidelines , feedback , and continuing medical education . Main outcome measures : Predefined clinical non-fatal outcomes , overall mortality , risk factors , and weight . Results : Predefined non-fatal outcomes and mortality were the same in both groups . The following risk factor levels were lower for intervention patients than for comparison patients ( median values ) : fasting plasma glucose concentration ( 7.9 v 8.7 mmol/l , P=0.0007 ) , glycated haemoglobin ( 8.5 % v 9.0 % , P<0.0001 ; reference range 5.4 - 7.4 % ) , systolic blood pressure ( 145 v 150 mm Hg , P=0.0004 ) , and cholesterol concentration ( 6.0 v 6.1 mmol/l , P=0.029 , adjusted for baseline concentration ) . Both groups had lost weight since diagnosis ( 2.6 v 2.0 kg ) . Metformin was the only drug used more frequently in the intervention group ( 24 % ( 110/459 ) v 15 % (61/415)).Intervention doctors arranged more follow up consultations , referred fewer patients to diabetes clinics , and set more optimistic goals . Conclusions : In primary care , individualised goals with educational and surveillance support may for at least six years bring risk factors of patients with type 2 diabetes to a level that has been shown to reduce diabetic complications but without weight gain . What is already known on this topic Evidence is increasing that control of hyperglycaemia , hypertension , and dyslipidaemia may postpone the development of diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes Maintaining good control over a long period can be difficult What this study adds Structured individualised personal care with educational and surveillance support for general practitioners reduced levels of risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients after six years Risk factors were reduced to a level that has been shown to have a beneficial effect on diabetic complications Participants also showed modest weight Abstract Objective : To determine whether a pharmacist can effectively review repeat prescriptions through consultations with elderly patients in general practice . Design : R and omised controlled trial of clinical medication review by a pharmacist against normal general practice review . Setting : Four general practice s. Participants : 1188 patients aged 65 or over who were receiving at least one repeat prescription and living in the community . Intervention : Patients were invited to a consultation at which the pharmacist review ed their medical conditions and current treatment . Main outcome measures : Number of changes to repeat prescriptions over one year , drug costs , and use of healthcare services . Results : 590 ( 97 % ) patients in the intervention group were review ed compared with 233 ( 44 % ) in the control group . Patients seen by the pharmacist were more likely to have changes made to their repeat prescriptions ( mean number of changes per patient 2.2 v 1.9 ; difference=0.31 , 95 % confidence interval 0.06 to 0.57 ; P=0.02 ) . Monthly drug costs rose in both groups over the year , but the rise was less in the intervention group ( mean difference £ 4.72 per 28 days , −£7.04 to -£2.41 ) ; equivalent to £ 61 per patient a year . Intervention patients had a smaller rise in the number of drugs prescribed ( 0.2 v 0.4 ; mean difference −0.2 , −0.4 to −0.1 ) . There was no evidence that review of treatment by the pharmacist affected practice consultation rates , outpatient consultations , hospital admissions , or death rate . Conclusions : A clinical pharmacist can conduct effective consultations with elderly patients in general practice to review their drugs . Such review results in significant changes in patients ' drugs and saves more than the cost of the intervention without affecting the workload of general practitioners . What is already known on this topic Review of patients on long term drug treatment is important but is done inadequately Evidence from the United States shows that pharmacists can improve patient care by review ing drug treatment What this study adds Consultations with a clinical pharmacist are an effective method of review ing the drug treatment of older patients Review by a pharmacist results in more drug changes and lower prescribing costs than normal care plus a much higher review rate Use of healthcare services by patients is not Twenty-seven independent community pharmacies that were preferred providers for a health maintenance organization ( HMO ) were enrolled in a study to determine the effect of increased intervention activities on the cost of a drug benefit in a managed care environment . Pharmacists from nine pharmacies were trained to initiate changes in medication prescriptions to contain costs , to enhance communication with patients and prescribers , and to intervene in drug-related problems . Their intervention activities during the nine-month study period were compared with activities of nine pharmacies assigned to a control group and nine pharmacies assigned to a comparison group .  Patients who visited the intervention pharmacies had a 6.5 % lower prescription mean ingredient cost ; a 6.0 % higher generic substitution rate ; an 8.3 % lower average patient drug cost per month ; and no difference in the days supply , the average number of prescriptions per patient , or the aggregate hospital admission rate . The pharmacists in the intervention group spent more time with patients before preparing prescriptions ( 2.4-fold increase ) ; initiated more requests for prescribers to change prescriptions ( 2.5-fold increase ) ; intervened more often to reduce the cost of drug therapy  ( 3.7-fold increase ) ; and suggested medication changes more often for better quality of care ( 1.9-fold increase ) . In this study , community pharmacists altered their practice procedures and setting s to foster communication with patients and prescribers . Also , the prospect i ve drug regimen review changed prescribing patterns : physicians permitted increased use of generic medications , which reduced monthly prescription expenditures Abstract Objective : To evaluate whether a programme of multifactorial home visits reduces falls and impairments in mobility in elderly people living in the community . Design : R and omised controlled trial with 18 months of follow up . Setting : Six general practice s in Hoensbroek , the Netherl and s. Participants : 316 people aged 70 and over living in the community , with moderate impairments in mobility or a history of recent falls . Intervention : Five home visits by a community nurse over a period of one year . Visits consisted of screening for medical , environmental , and behavioural factors causing falls and impairments in mobility , followed by specific advice , referrals , and other actions aim ed at dealing with the observed hazards . Main outcome measures : Falls and impairments in mobility . Results : No differences were found in falls and mobility outcomes between the intervention and usual care groups . Conclusion : Multifactorial home visits had no effects on falls and impairments in mobility in elderly people at risk who were living in the community . Because falls and impairments in mobility remain a serious problem among elderly people , alternative strategies should be developed and evaluated BACKGROUND regular medication review has been recommended for those over 75 and those on multiple drug therapy . Pharmacists are a potential source of assistance in review ing medication . Evidence of the benefits of this process is needed . OBJECTIVE to study the effect of medication review led by a pharmacist on resolution of pharmaceutical care issues , medicine costs , use of health and social services and health-related quality of life . DESIGN r and omized , controlled trial . SETTING general medical practice s in the Grampian region of Scotl and . SUBJECTS patients aged at least 65 years , with at least two chronic disease states who were taking at least four prescribed medicines regularly . METHODS pharmac 
    Output:
    
There is relatively weak evidence to indicate that pharmacist-led medication review s are effective in reducing hospital admissions .
There is currently no evidence for the effectiveness of other interventions which aim at reducing admissions or preventable drug related morbidity .