TY - JOUR T1 - Family support for stroke: one year follow up of a randomised controlled trial JF - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry JO - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry SP - 1006 LP - 1008 DO - 10.1136/jnnp.2004.048991 VL - 76 IS - 7 AU - J Mant AU - S Winner AU - J Roche AU - D T Wade Y1 - 2005/07/01 UR - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/76/7/1006.abstract N2 - 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. Conclusion: Family support is effective for carers, but different approaches need to be considered to alleviate the psychosocial problems of stroke patients. ER -