The Provision of Texture-Modified Foods in Long-term Care Facilities by Health Professionals: Protocol for a Scoping Review

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition among older adults with dysphagia is common. Texture-modified foods (TMFs) are an essential part of dysphagia management. In long-term care (LTC) facilities, health professionals have implemented TMFs, but their application has not been fully elucidated, making them heterogeneous. OBJECTIVE: We aim to explore the implementation of TMFs in LTC facilities, particularly focusing on the role of health professionals in nutritional care involving TMFs (eg, deciding the type of food, preparing and giving the food, and evaluating the outcomes). METHODS: A scoping review using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodological approach will be performed. A comprehensive search for published literature will be systematically performed in PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PsycINFO, and Science Citation Index (Web of Science). Data screening and extraction will be performed by 2 reviewers independently. The studies included will be synthesized, summarized, and reported, following the preferred reporting items of the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Our review will consider the following study designs: mixed methods, quantitative, and qualitative. Studies with patients who are not older adults will be excluded. RESULTS: Data extraction will be completed by February 2023. Data presentation and analyses will be completed by April 2023, and the final outcomes will be completed by June 2023. The study findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSIONS: Our scoping review will consider studies related to TMF interventions for older adults in LTC residential facilities, with no exclusion restrictions based on country, gender, or comorbidities. Studies on interventions that address TMF-related issues, such as deciding the type of food, preparing and giving the food, and evaluating the outcomes, are qualified for inclusion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: OSF Registries 79AFZ; https://osf.io/79afz INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/44201