Work

Evaluation of a screening interview for restless legs syndrome

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We evaluated a fully structured interview for restless legs syndrome (RLS) for potential use in primary care settings and in epidemiological research. METHODS: Seventy-four veterans were recruited at Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics. The interview was administered telephonically by trained non-clinicians (time 1) and readministered face to face (time 2). A physician conducted gold standard examinations. We calculated sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. RESULTS: Reproducibility was low (kappa = 0.34, P < 0.01), but was higher for interviews repeated within 1 year (kappa = 0.55, P < 0.01). Including those reporting > or =3 symptoms as cases, sensitivity ranged from 63% (time 1) to 75% (time 2). Specificity ranged from 88% to 71%. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity reported here are lower than previously reported in specialty care. This interview for RLS might be useful for preliminary screening of patients with related complaints if followed by additional diagnostic maneuvers or might be used in observational epidemiological research.

Source: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica

DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2008.01117.x

Authors: C. C. Bourguet, S. K. Ober, M. P. Panzner, K. R. Baughman

Institutions: Northeast Ohio Medical University, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Restless Legs Syndrome Research

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Pfizer, Johns Hopkins University, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Medical Research and Materiel Command