Many different interventions have been used to influence the prescribing behaviour of physicians, and qualitative evaluations (metaethnography) of such interventions have been reported. So far quantitative evaluations of such interventions have not been reported; this study is an attempt in that direction. Twenty-six published studies (January 1979-September 1991) on the interventions for influencing the prescribing behaviour of physicians were pooled and effect sizes were extracted. Mean effect size (Zr) was 0.559 and Cohen's d = 0.886. Estimated Fail-Safe N was 89. Success rates of interventions varied from 1% to 99%.

INTRODUCTION Objective: (i) To assess quality of life (QoL) profilesIn 1990, geriatrics (aged 65 years and above) accounted in hypertensive geriatrics with SF-36; (ii) to assess for only 1 in every 25 Americans (3·1 million). By 1994 the compliance of geriatrics to medications; (iii) to this figure had risen to 1 in 8 Americans (33·2 million). estimate clinical outcomes (reduction in systolic andIt is projected that there will be 80 million (apdiastolic blood pressure); (iv) to assess life satisproximately 1 in 5) elderly people in the U.S.A. in the faction and (v) to explore the interrelationships of year 2050 (1). By the year 2030, spending on medications QoL, compliance, clinical outcomes and life satisfor elderly people may reach 35-45% of the total nafaction in hypertensive geriatrics.tional expenditure in the U.S.A. Elderly people receive Method: Fifty-nine hypertensive geriatric patients on average nearly five medications at any given time. in cardiology and 65 Plus clinics in West VirginiaElderly people visit physicians more frequently and for Hospitals were studied. each visit more prescriptions for medications are writ-Results: Age showed a significant negative corten than average. Thus the resulting 'polymedicine' relation with physical functioning (r=0·339, (visiting multiple physicians) and 'polypharmacy' (con-PΖ0·0127) and physical role (r=0·335, PΖ0·0148). sulting many pharmacists on prescriptions and over-The physical role facet of SF-36 is correlated with the-counter (OTC) medications) may affect the quality life satisfaction in geriatrics (r=0·316, PΖ0·0219).

Age showed a significant negative correlation with physical functioning (r = 0.339, P< or =0.0127) and physical role (r=0.335, P< or =0.0148). The physical role facet of SF-36 is correlated with life satisfaction in geriatrics (r = 0.316, P < or =0.0219). A regression analysis (backward stepwise) not including bodily pain (BP) and general health (GH) resulted in a model explaining 22.3% of variance (n = 54, F = 2.252, P < or = 0.0543). Physical role (P < or = 0.0084) and mental health facets (P< or = 0.0184) of SF-36 emerged as the predictors of life satisfaction in elderly hypertensive patients. Emotional role functioning (P < or = 0.0257) and social functioning (P < or = 0.0033) scores predicted levels of diastolic blood pressure in elderly hypertensive patients. However, all eight concepts of SF-36 failed to predict compliance behaviour in geriatrics (n = 53, P < or = 0.6913, R2= 0.110).

Herbs help in healing and treating the root cause of the ailment by rejuvenating the system in protecting from chronic diseases like Diabetes thus helping in leading a better quality of life, hence this study is aimed at comparing the quality of life assessment of patients taking herbal medicine and allopathic medicine using generic and disease specific tools [SF-36-V2-Short form health survey and QOLID (Quality of life of Indian Diabetic Patients)]which helped in identifying the influence of various life domains in diabetic patients and a better understanding of the treatment goal of herbs in diabetes. Significant difference in the outcomes scores in between treatment groups, indicate that herbal treatment is far better in terms of quality of life of specific domains VT (Vitality), BP (Bodily Pain), MH (Mental Health), GH (General Health) and PF (Physical Functioning) compared to the allopathic treatment.