Table 1.

Characteristics of included studies

Author, year	Study design	Population	Sample size	Age mean (SD)	Targeted FRIDs	Intervention	Control	Study outcomes
Blalock et al, 201028	RCT	Community setting Age ≥65 years Speak, read English ≥4 prescription medications; ≥1 high falls-risk medication ≥1 fall not attributable to syncope within previous year	186 (93 I/93 C)	74.8 (6.9)	Benzodiazepines, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, sedative hypnotics, opioid analgesics, antipsychotics and skeletal muscle relaxants	Pharmacist medication review Physician coordinated medication changes Fall brochure, home safety checklist	Fall brochure, home safety checklist	Rate of falls Incidence of falls
Campbell et al, 199931	RCT	Community setting Age ≥65 years Using benzodiazepine, other hypnotic, antidepressant or major tranquilliser Ambulatory No physiotherapy General practitioner thought psychotropic medication withdrawal beneficial	93 Arm 1: 24 (I) Arm 2: 24 (I) Arm 3: 21 (C)* Arm 4: 24 (C)*	74.7 (7.2)	Psychotropic medications (eg, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, antidepressants, tranquillisers)	Arm 1 Withdrawal of psychotropic medication over 14 weeks Placebo substitution Home exercise programme Arm 2 Psychotropic medication withdrawal Placebo substitution No home exercise programme	Arm 3 No change in psychotropic medication Home exercise programme Arm 4 No change in psychotropic medication No exercise programme	Rate of falls Incidence of falls
Mott et al, 201624	Cluster RCT	Community setting Age ≥65 years English speaking Fall in last 12 months/fear of falling Workshop participation Capable of consent	80 (39 I/41 C)	75.6 (6.5)	Neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, sedative-hypnotics, antihypertensives, cyclobenzaprine, carisoprodol, sedating antihistamines, oxybutynin, carbamazepine, methocarbamol, prochlorperazine, benztropine, trihexiphenidyl	FRID pharmacist review Medication-related action plan developed by pharmacist for patient Pharmacist follow-up Patient given pamphlet describing the role of medications in falls and monthly falls calendars	Medications in falls pamphlet	Rate of falls Incidence of falls
Patterson et al, 201025	Cluster RCT	Nursing home setting with ≥30 beds; not exclusive care of terminally ill Age ≥65 years	334 (173 I/161 C)	82.7 (8.4)	Psychoactive medications (ie, hypnotics, anxiolytics, antipsychotics)	Monthly medication review via pharmacist for appropriateness Nurse and prescriber collaboration to improve medications	Usual care	Rate of falls
Boyé et al, 201732	RCT	Acute care emergency department setting; attended due to fall incident Age ≥65 ≥1 FRID for ≥2 weeks prior to the fall MMSE ≥21/30 Ambulates independently Community dwelling Informed consent by patient	612 (319 I/293 C)	80.2 (7.3)	Anxiolytics/hypnotics, antidepressants, neuroleptics, antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics, NSAIDs, H2 receptor antagonists, opioids, sympathomimetics, antihistaminics, diuretics	Investigator conducted FRID assessment, proposed changes Changes discussed with geriatrician and general practitioner/prescribing doctor If consensus, FRID discontinued, reduced dosage, substituted for potentially safer option	Usual care	Rate of falls Incidence of falls

*Arm 3 and arm 4 classified as controls due to lack of FRID withdrawal in these arms of the factorial design.

C, control; FRID, fall-risk increasing drug; I, intervention; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; RCT, randomised controlled trial.