Comparison 1. Telephone intervention versus Usual care.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Quality of Life	4		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 Quality of life (End of intervention)	4	364	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.02 [‐0.24, 0.19]
2 Quality of life (Short‐term follow‐up)	1	128	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐4.43, 4.43]
2.1 Quality of life (Short‐term follow‐up ≤ 3 months)	1	128	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐4.43, 4.43]
3 Burden	10		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 End of intervention	9	788	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.11 [‐0.30, 0.07]
3.2 Medium‐term follow up > 3 to ≤ 6 months	2	147	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.00 [‐0.32, 0.33]
4 Burden (Short‐term follow‐up)	1	128	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.20 [‐0.75, 0.35]
4.1 Short‐term follow‐up ≤ 3 months	1	128	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.20 [‐0.75, 0.35]
5 Skill acquisition: Problem‐Solving	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 End of intervention	3	236	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.25 [‐0.21, 0.71]
6 Skill acquisition: Preparedness to Care	2		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
6.1 End of intervention	2	208	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.37 [0.09, 0.64]
7 Skill acquisition: Preparedness to Care (medium‐term follow‐up)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 Medium‐term follow‐up > 3 months to ≤ 6 months	1	17	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.30 [‐1.02, 0.42]
8 Skill acquisition:Competence	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
8.1 End of intervention	1	107	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	4.10 [‐2.19, 10.39]
9 Psychological health: Depression	10		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
9.1 End of intervention	9	792	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.37 [‐0.70, ‐0.05]
9.2 Medium‐term follow‐up > 3 months to ≤ 6 months	3	227	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.05 [‐0.56, 0.45]
10 Psychological health: Anxiety	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
10.1 End of intervention	1	61	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐4.00 [‐11.68, ‐0.32]
11 Psychological health: Coping	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
11.1 End of intervention	1	121	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.0 [‐0.45, 2.45]
12 Psychological health: Stress	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.1 End of intervention	1	137	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.10 [‐0.30, 0.10]
12.2 Medium‐term follow‐up > 3 to ≤ 6 months	1	130	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.10 [‐0.11, 0.31]
13 Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
13.1 End of intervention	1	61	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.90 [‐0.63, 4.43]
14 Health status and well‐being: Physical health	2		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
14.1 End of intervention	2	248	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.09 [‐0.35, 0.17]
15 Health status and well‐being: Self‐efficacy	2		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
15.1 End of intervention	2	175	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.04 [‐0.26, 0.33]
16 Health status and well‐being: Self‐efficacy (Medium‐term follow‐up)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
16.1 Medium‐term follow‐up > 3 to ≤ 6 months	1	130	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.29, 0.29]
17 Health status and well‐being: Social activity	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
17.1 End of intervention	1	121	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.04 [‐0.10, 0.18]
18 Satisfaction: Satisfaction with supports	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
18.1 End of intervention	3	291	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.10 [‐0.24, 0.44]
19 Family functioning	1	141	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.20 [‐0.04, 0.44]