title: Quality measures for the care of adult patients with restless legs syndrome.
abstract: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) commissioned several Workgroups to develop quality measures for the care of patients with common sleep disorders, including adults with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Using the AASM process for quality measure development, the RLS Work-group developed three target outcomes for RLS management, including improving the accuracy of diagnosis, reducing symptom severity, and minimizing treatment complications. Seven processes were developed to support these outcomes. To achieve the outcome of improving accuracy of diagnosis, the use of accepted diagnostic criteria and assessment of iron stores are recommended. To realize the outcome of decreasing symptom severity, routine assessment of severity and provision of evidence-based treatment are recommended. To support the outcome of minimizing treatment complications, counseling about potential side effects and assessing for augmentation and impulse control disorders, when indicated, are recommended. Further research is needed to validate optimal practice processes to achieve best outcomes in adult patients with RLS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Sleep Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Lynn Marie
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Trotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Cathy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.affiliation: American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Darien, IL.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Harrod
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Brian B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharon
authors.affiliation: Sleep Disorders Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zak
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Ronald D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Chervin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D056508:Sleep Medicine Specialty / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome