GAIS
Pronunciation: GAYZ
Also written as: GAIS — Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale
Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale; a validated, single-item clinician- or patient-rated scale used to assess overall aesthetic improvement following a cosmetic treatment.
Full Definition
The Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) is a five-point ordinal rating instrument scored from 1 (worse) to 5 (exceptional improvement) that is widely used as an outcome measure in aesthetic dermatology clinical trials. It may be completed by the treating clinician (clinician GAIS) or the patient (patient GAIS), and results are frequently reported side by side to capture both perspectives. The GAIS was developed to provide a standardised, easy-to-administer global outcome assessment and is considered a primary or co-primary endpoint in many regulatory submissions for aesthetic injectables. Editors should expand the acronym on first use, note that 'Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale' is the full form (capitalised as a proper instrument name), and ensure that the numerical scoring direction (higher = better) is stated clearly in methods sections.
Usage
Usage note: Always expand GAIS on first use. Differentiate between clinician GAIS and patient GAIS (sometimes written pGAIS) when both are used. The scale name should be title-cased as a proper instrument name.
In Context
- "Co-primary endpoints were the proportion of subjects rated 'improved' or 'much improved' on the clinician GAIS at week 24." — Clinical trial protocol
- "The patient GAIS score should be recorded before the clinician assessment to avoid response bias." — Clinical study operations manual