Menu Assessment Tools Used in Residential Aged Care: A Scoping Review of Content and Quality

This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesise existing publicly available tools that support menu assessments for residential aged care settings, specifically the tools content areas, recommendations and quality. The scoping review was conducted according to Levac et al. scoping review methodology and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Menu assessment tools were identified through grey literature through Google and Google Scholar search engines using key terms such as ‘residential aged care’ and ‘menu assessment’. Data were synthesised and reported narratively, according to content areas of menu planning, nutritional basis of the menu, texture modification/fluid consistency, therapeutic and special diets and foodservice management recommendations. Quality appraisal was conducted using the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch & Evaluation Instrument. Seventeen tools from seven countries were included. There was variability in the content and recommendations, with no included tool covering all content areas. The overall quality ranged from two to six (out of seven), and no tools met the quality criteria to be recommended for use in their current form. The lack of consistency in content areas, recommendations and quality of tools indicates the need to modify existing tools or to conduct research to support the development of a new evidence-based tool. Future research is needed to gain consensus on acceptable content areas, appropriate recommendations and to develop an evidence-base to underpin the tools. A purpose-built, evidence-based tool is essential for consistent foodservice evaluation and for improving food and nutrition standards, ultimately enhancing resident outcomes.