Development of a screening intervention for early detection of malnutrition risk among community-dwelling older adults in a Danish home care setting
Tine Louise Launholt, Palle Larsen, Hanne Kaae KristensenAbstract
Background:
Malnutrition is prevalent among community-dwelling older adults (OAs), particularly those using healthcare services, and the number of affected individuals is expected to increase with ongoing population ageing. Early and systematic identification of OAs at risk of malnutrition is recommended as a key first step in prevention and management. However, a significant gap exists between recommended nutritional practices and their implementation in routine care.
Aim:
This article aims to describe the development process of a complex intervention for early detection of malnutrition risk among community-dwelling OAs (≥65 years) in a Danish homecare setting.
Methods:
The development process was overall framed by the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework and guided by the IdentifyiNg and assessing different approaches to DEveloping compleX intervention framework. Eleven iterative actions were undertaken, including systematic consideration of contextual conditions, key uncertainties, stakeholder engagement, review of published evidence, and development of the intervention’s programme theory.
Findings:
The development process resulted in an intervention comprising four activities:
An interprofessional workgroup. Learning activities for homecare staff. Conversations with OAs and their informal caregivers. Systematic and continuous screening followed by an action guide.
Activities C and D covered the screening procedure, and activities A and B the implementation strategy for this procedure.
The developed intervention was designed to support nutritional self-care among OAs and facilitate early identification of malnutrition risk in homecare settings. Subsequent feasibility testing of the intervention was conducted between August 2024 and December 2025. It is reported elsewhere.