This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

To evaluate the effectiveness of telephone interventions, delivered by healthcare professionals, when compared to usual care or non‐telephone‐based support interventions for educating and psychosocially supporting informal carers of people with acute and chronic diagnosed illnesses, on these carers' quality of life, psychosocial and physical well‐being. We aim, additionally, to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of telephone interventions.