Methods	RCT Concealment of allocation: DONE Blinded assessment of outcomes: DONE Follow-up of patients: 6, 26, 52 weeks Baseline measurement: DONE Reliable primary outcome measure: DONE Protection against contamination: DONE
Participants	Location: Norway Patients recovering from a stroke Mean age: treatment = 76.9 control = 76.3 Treatment = 31 Control = 31
Interventions	Early discharge outreach Type of service: physiotherapy, occupational therapy and dedicated nursing; stroke unit + home based programme of follow up care + primary health care. Home visit if patient lives within 30 to 45 minute radius of hospital, if greater than this the primary health team visited the home. Follow up plan made with family and primary health care providers. Mobile team established a service and support system. Meeting with physician and stroke team + patient and family on the day of discharge to define follow-up care plans. For patients with extensive deficits plans for further rehabilitation were made. Once home contact was maintained by phone + at least one other home visit. Follow up by mobile team terminated with an out-patient consultation (for those living within 30 to 40 minutes away from the hospital) or home visit (if more than 35 to 40 minutes). Local information meeting if a group of recruited patients lived in the same area Control group: in-patient hospital care
Outcomes	Mortality Readmission Functional status Health status Carer views Length of stay
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors’ judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	A - Adequate