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Published on: August 25, 2014

Validation of a clinical scale to assess abdominal status of preterm infants

Marie Colné1, Emmanuelle Rochette2, Léa Souchon3

  • 1CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Néonatologie et Réanimation Pédiatrique, Clermont- Ferrand, F-63000, France.

Pediatrics and Neonatology
|August 7, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A new scale, the ECAP scale, objectively assesses preterm infants' abdominal status. This validated and reliable tool aids in monitoring digestive health and detecting complications early.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Assessment Tools

Background:

  • Preterm infants have immature digestive systems, increasing risks of severe digestive complications.
  • There is a need for a reliable instrument to evaluate the abdominal condition of preterm neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate the Evaluation Clinique de l'état Abdominal du Prématuré (ECAP) scale for objective abdominal status assessment in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 120 preterm infants (24-37 weeks gestational age) using the 10-item ECAP scale (0-2 rating).
  • Psychometric properties evaluated included acceptability, content validity (CVI), internal consistency (Cronbach's α), inter-rater reliability (ICC), and construct validity.

Main Results:

  • The ECAP scale demonstrated good acceptability and content validity (CVI=0.83).
  • Internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.73) and test-retest reliability (ICC=0.97) were excellent.
  • Internal and external structure validity were confirmed, with significant sensitivity to change.

Conclusions:

  • The ECAP scale is the first validated and reliable tool for assessing preterm infant abdominal status.
  • Its ease of use by multidisciplinary teams facilitates rapid detection and monitoring of digestive issues in preterms.
Abstract

Keywords:
AssessmentDigestive systemFeeding intoleranceNeonatal intensive care unitsPreterm infants

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