Mehuys 2008.

Methods	Design: RT Groups: intervention group (asthma self‐management); control group (usual care)
Participants	Pharmacies: 66 Pharmacy worker: pharmacists ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Pharmacy user: 201 patients with asthma (107 intervention; 94 control) mean age: intervention 35.2 (range 19 to 51) years; control 36.3 (range 17 to 51) years % female: intervention 55%; control 51% Setting: urban Country: Belgium
Interventions	Pharmacy worker‐directed intervention: a training session about asthma (pathophysiology), its non‐pharmacological and pharmacological treatment (Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines), and about the use of the study protocol. Delivered by: unclear Type: education material; education meeting; based on clinical practice guidelines Mode of delivery: unclear TDF: knowledge Duration: unclear Pharmacy worker control: it appears that pharmacists saw both control and intervention participants. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Pharmacy user‐directed intervention: intervention focused on ensuring correct use of drug therapy including inhaler use and good adherence Delivered by: pharmacists Type: asthma self‐management; education; based on clinical practice guidelines; medication management Mode of delivery: individual face‐to‐face; written materials TDF: knowledge, skills Duration: number of sessions: 3 (initial, 1 and 3 month visits with pharmacist) Follow‐up: 6 months post randomisation (end of intervention period) Pharmacy user control: usual treatment
Outcomes	Pharmacy worker: not assessed ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Pharmacy user: Clinical: level of asthma control (Asthma Control Test (ACT)), peak expiratory flow (Mini‐Wright Standard Peak Flow Meter); rescue medication use, severe exacerbations Psychological health: not assessed Behavioural: night‐time awakenings due to asthma; inhalation technique (8‐point checklist); adherence to controller medication (using 2 validated measures: prescription refill rates and self‐reporting), smoking quit rates Quality of life: asthma‐specific quality of life (Standardised Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ(S)) Process: knowledge about asthma (Knowledge of Asthma and Asthma Medicine questionnaire) and smoking behaviour Costs/health care utilisation: not assessed
Notes	Study/intervention name: none given Funding source: funded by Ghent Unviersity
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Predetermined by the investigators based on a randomisation table. Serially numbered, closed envelopes were made for each participating pharmacy. The envelope with the lowest number was opened by the pharmacist upon inclusion of a new patient.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	See above
Baseline outcome measures similar	Low risk	Baseline variables used as covariates in the analyses
Baseline characteristics similar	Low risk	No significant differences
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Linear mixed model used with maximum‐likelihood method to handle missing data
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Blinded assessment at 6 months
Protection against contamination	High risk	Randomisation at patient level, not pharmacy level
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Nothing noted
Other bias	Unclear risk	Potential selection bias, as only regular clients recruited
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	Pharmacists aware of patients' groups.