ASSESSMENT OF GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AMONG WORKING WOMEN USING THE GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOM RATING SCALE (GSRS)

Abstract: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common among working women and may be influenced by dietary habits and lifestyle factors. The present study aimed to assess GI symptom severity using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and examine its association with selected dietary factors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 346 working women. GI symptoms were assessed using the GSRS, which includes five domains: reflux, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea, and constipation. Dietary factors such as frequency of spicy food consumption and daily water intake were collected using a structured questionnaire. Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to determine associations. Participants presenting with symptoms received individualized dietary counseling. The majority of participants reported mild gastrointestinal symptoms, with no cases of very severe discomfort. Domain-wise analysis showed higher mean scores for indigestion (3.07 ± 1.25) and reflux (3.02 ± 1.21), indicating greater prevalence of upper GI symptoms, while diarrhoea (1.46 ± 0.82) and constipation (1.49 ± 0.88) were less severe. A strong positive correlation was observed between spicy food consumption and GSRS scores (ρ = 0.678, p < 0.001), whereas water intake showed a significant negative correlation (ρ = −0.254, p < 0.001). GI symptoms among working women were predominantly mild, with upper GI disturbances being more common. Dietary habits significantly influenced symptom severity, highlighting the need for targeted nutritional interventions.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal symptoms, GSRS, working women, dietary factors, spicy food, water intake.