Edinburgh

Methods	Randomised controlled trial Allocation by remote computer‐generated random numbers
Participants	Patients were recruited from both inpatient and outpatient settings within 30 days of stroke onset Patient blinding was achieved through a process of delayed consent 417 participants Mean age: 68 years (SD 13) 50% male
Interventions	Intervention: the intervention was delivered by a social worker, who contacted patients on average 4 times to provide social support, counselling and to identify unmet needs requiring services Control: control patients received usual care which did not include contact with the stroke family care worker until after final follow up had been completed at 6 months
Outcomes	Outcomes were recorded by a research psychologist blinded to treatment allocation at 6 months Patient outcomes: extended activities of daily living (Frenchay Activities Index), activities of daily living (Barthel), dependency (Oxford Handicap Scale), mental/health (GHQ 30, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Mental Adjustment to Stroke Scale, medical coping modes questionnaire), satisfaction (Pound Satisfaction Scale) Carer outcomes: subjective health status (Caregiver Hassles Scale), extended activities of daily living (Frenchay Activities Index, social adjustment scale), mental health (GHQ 28), satisfaction (Pound Satisfaction Scale)
Notes	Involvement of a carer was not compulsory
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Low risk	A ‐ Adequate