A novel pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptoms and Adaptive Behavior Scale for different ages: GaziESAS v2.0.

Background: High-quality scales (HQS) suitable that measure symptoms and adaptive behaviors (AB) with proven validity and reliability are needed for different age groups of children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

Objective: To develop a high-quality pediatric EoE symptoms and AB scale for different age groups.

Methods: Children (7-11 years), teens (12-18 years), and parents of 2-18-year-old children with EoE were included. A HQS should have encompassed: the identification of domain and item generation; content validity (CnV) and field test for construct validity (CsV) and reliability. Convergent validity (CgV) was examined for CsV. Correlations between the Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptom Score, version 2.0 (PEESS v2.0) and Gazi University Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptoms and Adaptive Behavior Scale (GaziESAS) version 2.0 (v2.0) were examined for CgV. Reliability was determined through internal consistency (Cronbach-α) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients: ICC).

Results: Nineteen children, 42 teens, and 82 parents completed the study. GaziESAS v2.0 was composed of 20 items with two main domains: symptoms (subdomains: dysphagia and nondysphagia) and AB. CnV indexes were excellent for all items. The CgV varied from good to excellent correlation (r = 0.6 to r = 0.9). GaziESAS v2.0 showed good reliability (Cronbach-α >0.7 and ICC >0.6).

Conclusion: GaziESAS v2.0 is the first pediatric HQS that measures the frequency of symptoms and AB in EoE within the last month with separate forms for children, teens, and parents.