Family support for stroke: one year follow up of a randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence that family support can benefit carers of stroke patients, but not the patients themselves.


OBJECTIVE
To extend the follow up of a single blind randomised controlled trial of family support for stroke patients and carers to one year to ascertain whether there were any late effects of the intervention.


METHODS
The study was a randomised controlled trial. Patients admitted to hospital with acute stroke who had a close carer were assigned to receive family support or normal care. Families were visited at home by a researcher 12 months after the stroke, and a series of questionnaires was administered to patient and carer.


RESULTS
The benefits to carers mostly persisted, though they were no longer statistically significant because some patients were lost to follow up. There was no evidence of any effects on patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Family support is effective for carers, but different approaches need to be considered to alleviate the psychosocial problems of stroke patients.
Mant
J
J
Department of Primary Care and General Practice, Primary Care Clinical Sciences Building, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. j.w.mant@bham.ac.uk
Winner
S
S
Roche
J
J
Wade
D T
DT
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000451:nursing*; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support