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Abstract
Background
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) in children is commonly reported, yet frequently undiagnosed.
RLS can cause significant sleep disturbance and its associated deficits may have cardiovascular
and neurocognitive consequences. Growing pains (GP) is often confused or synonymous
with RLS, yet has been better researched and can be identified by parental questionnaire.
RLS has not been able to be so distinguished, which renders an outstanding need. Therefore
this study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to identify RLS, in children.
The significance of this project is that RLS in children will be better identified
in children for the first time.
Methods
A process of triangulation was undertaken to develop the RLS questionnaire. The literature,
parent interviews and a children’s focus group were the sources of initial data. Themes
were extracted by independent review of the transcripts and the questionnaire was
subsequently constructed and validated. The reliability of the questionnaire was examined
using a same subject, repeated measures study.
Results
The interviews covered the parent’s accounts of RLS in six children (two girls, four
boys) all aged between eight and 10 years. The focus group obtained the experience
of children suffering RLS. A questionnaire of 11 questions was developed and validated
from a small convenience sample (n= 11). Internal consistency yielded 65% and repeat
measures reliability rho = 0.58.
Conclusions
The questionnaire developed enables RLS to be identified in children specifically
and for the first time. Such instrumentation may be used to establish prevalence,
discriminate RLS from GP, to evaluate management programs and to assist treating clinicians.
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Conference name:
Australasian Podiatry Council Conference 2011