Health policy to address disease-related malnutrition: a scoping review

Health policies promote optimal care, yet policies that address disease-related malnutrition (DRM) are lacking. The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review to identify literature on existing and planned policy to address DRM in children or adults and explore the settings, contexts and actors of DRM policy.

A search strategy comprising DRM and policy keywords was applied to eight databases on 24 February 2023. Articles that addressed DRM and policy were selected for inclusion after two independent reviews. The health policy triangle (HPT) framework (ie, actors, content, contexts and processes considerations for policy) guided data extraction and thematic analysis.

A total of 67 articles were included out of the 37 196 identified. Some articles (n=14) explored established policies at the local level related to food and mealtime, nutrition care practices, oral nutritional supplement prescribing or reimbursement. Other articles gave direction or rationale for DRM policy. As part of the HPT, actors included researchers, advocacy groups and DRM champions while content pertained to standard processes for nutrition care such as screening, assessment, intervention and monitoring. Contexts included acute care and care home settings with a focus on paediatrics, adults, older adults. Processes identified were varied and influenced by the type of policy (eg, local, national, international) and its goal (eg, advocating, developing, implementing).

There is a paucity of global DRM policy. Nutrition screening, assessment, intervention and monitoring are consistently identified as important to DRM policy. Decision makers are important actors and should consider context, content and processes to develop and mobilise DRM policy to improve nutrition care. Future efforts need to prioritise the development and implementation of policies addressing DRM.