Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41969743›Full record

ArticleJournal of research in nursing : JRN2026

Everyday life experiences of family members of individuals with restless legs syndrome: a qualitative interview study.

Elzana Odzakovic, Maria Björk, Malin Jakobsson, Sandra Öberg, Mattias Georgsson, Lise-Lotte Jonasson, Susanne Knutsson, Martin Ulander, Bengt Fridlund, Anders Broström

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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of research in nursing : JRN, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Elzana OdzakovicRN, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8163-5045
Maria BjörkRN, RSCN, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6419-2417
Malin JakobssonRN, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7344-1515
Sandra ÖbergRN, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9100-2674
Mattias GeorgssonRN, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9854-7690
Lise-Lotte JonassonRN, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0848-6098
Susanne KnutssonRN, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8659-8698
Martin UlanderMD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Linköping University Hospital, Sweden.
Bengt FridlundRN, PhD, Senior Professor, Centre for Interprofessional Collaboration within Emergency Care (CICE), Linnaeus University, Sweden.
Anders BroströmRN, PhD, Professor, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0433-0619

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a long-term sensory-motor illness impacting individuals and their family members, yet little is known about the family members' everyday experiences. Aim: To explore and describe the everyday life experiences of family members of individuals with RLS. Methods: An inductive, qualitative exploratory design was used. Telephone interviews were conducted with 25 family members (e.g. partner, child) and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Family members described adjusting their routines and social activities to accommodate the individual with RLS, often balancing these changes with their own needs. This adaptation affected their everyday lives, as conflicting desires required balancing personal needs with sleep disruptions, resulting in tiredness. Despite these challenges, they employed strategies such as shared activities and self-care to manage the impact on the individuals with RLS. Conclusions and contribution to nursing: This study highlights the importance of family involvement in RLS care and the need for a family nursing approach in guidelines. Healthcare professionals could invite both family members and individuals with RLS in shared decision-making. Policies and practices could provide resources to support flexible coping strategies and reduce isolation. Future research could explore social support to better understand family members' experiences.

Indexed as

family membersfamily nursingqualitative content analysissleeptirednessWillis Ekbom Disease

Identifiers

PMID41969743
PMCPMC13061842

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.