Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring
06:46

Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring

Published on: December 14, 2020

3.0K

The Gastrointestinal and Gastroesophageal Reflux (GIGER) Scale for Infants and Toddlers

Britt F Pados1, Christine Repsha1, Rebecca R Hill1

  • 1Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.

Global Pediatric Health
|August 5, 2021
PubMed

Insights

A new scale, the Gastrointestinal and Gastroesophageal Reflux (GIGER) Scale for Infants and Toddlers, effectively measures GI and GER symptoms in children under two. This parent-reported tool demonstrates reliable psychometric properties for clinical use.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Child Health Research

Background:

  • Gastrointestinal (GI) and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms are common in infants and toddlers.
  • Accurate assessment tools are crucial for diagnosis and management.
  • Existing measures may not comprehensively capture parent-observable symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate the Gastrointestinal and Gastroesophageal Reflux (GIGER) Scale for Infants and Toddlers.
  • To assess the factor structure and psychometric properties of the GIGER Scale.
  • To provide a reliable parent-report measure for GI and GER symptoms in young children.

Main Methods:

  • Item development to capture parent-observable GI and GER symptoms.
  • Exploratory factor analysis on data from 391 parents of children under 2 years old.
  • Reliability (internal consistency) and validity (correlation with existing scales, group comparisons) analyses were performed.

Main Results:

  • A 36-item GIGER Scale with 3 subscales was identified through factor analysis.
  • The scale demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = .78–.94).
  • GIGER scores correlated significantly with established measures (I-GERQ-R, IGSQ) and were higher in infants diagnosed with GER or constipation.

Conclusions:

  • The GIGER Scale is a psychometrically sound, parent-report instrument for assessing GI and GER symptoms in children under 2 years old.
  • The scale's factor structure and reliability support its use in clinical and research settings.
  • The GIGER Scale aids in identifying infants experiencing significant gastrointestinal and reflux issues.

Keywords:
abdominal painchildcolicdigestivesigns and symptoms

More Related Videos

Surgical Models of Gastroesophageal Reflux with Mice05:19

Surgical Models of Gastroesophageal Reflux with Mice

Published on: August 25, 2015

10.3K
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

86.8K

Related Concept Videos

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease II: Clinical Features and Management01:29

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease II: Clinical Features and Management

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a persistent medical condition that affects many individuals worldwide. Its clinical manifestations can vary greatly, making diagnosis and management challenging for healthcare professionals. The following is a comprehensive overview of the clinical manifestations, assessment, and management strategies for GERD.
Clinical Manifestations
GERD presents itself in a multitude of ways, with symptoms varying from person to person. The hallmark symptoms are...
277
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease I: Meaning and Pathophysiology01:29

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease I: Meaning and Pathophysiology

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) involves the recurrent backflow of the stomach or duodenal contents into the esophagus, leading to troublesome symptoms and potential esophageal mucosal damage. Although GERD is often referred to as a disease, it is more accurately described as a syndrome, as it encompasses a range of symptoms and complications rather than a singular pathological entity, impacting a large number of individuals as the most prevalent upper gastrointestinal problem. Roughly...
636
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System I: Subjective Data01:17

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System I: Subjective Data

Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health History
The initial step in assessing the GI system is obtaining a comprehensive health history. This includes inquiring about the patient's history or presence of problems...
367
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern01:29

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
220
Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction01:30

Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction

Esophageal strictures involve abnormal narrowing or tightening of the esophagus. They vary in length and severity, ranging from mild constriction to complete obstruction, and are classified as benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...
332
Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders01:20

Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

Gastrointestinal or GI motility disorders are characterized by irregular gastrointestinal tract movements, disrupting food transit from the mouth to the anus. They are caused by damage or dysfunction in gut muscles or nerves. These disorders can cause symptoms such as severe constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and swallowing difficulties. Disorders can affect any segment of the GI tract and range widely in severity, from common conditions like GERD to life-threatening conditions like...
691