Adaptation and evaluation of a food preference assessment tool for older adults in geriatric care: the DYSPHAGING Preferences study protocol
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Undernutrition is a major concern in older adults due to its multifactorial origins and its impact on morbidity and mortality. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common in frail geriatric patients and contributes to undernutrition by prompting individuals to progressively withdraw foods from their diet, leading to dietary imbalance and potential complications. Although texture adaptation and nutritional strategies are widely implemented in clinical practice, little is known about the actual food preferences of hospitalised older adults with dysphagia. Existing tools to assess food preferences are scarce and poorly adapted to the heterogeneity and sensory impairments of this population. The DYSPHAGING Preferences study aims to develop a food-preference assessment tool specifically tailored to hospitalised older adults, assess its test-retest reliability and describe food preferences measured using this adapted instrument. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The DYSPHAGING Preferences study is designed as a prospective, multicentre, non-comparative protocol consisting of three steps. Step 1 will adapt a forced-choice questionnaire-initially developed for paediatric populations-to adults aged≥70 years hospitalised in geriatric wards, by assessing visual and lexical recognition of pre-selected food items. Step 2 will evaluate the test-retest reliability and practical feasibility of administering the preference questionnaire in a new cohort of older adults. Step 3 will be a cross-sectional study describing food preferences and comparing Preference Indexes between participants screening positive and screening negative for dysphagia using the Eating Assessment Tool-10. The questionnaire will include six categories of food (acidic, textured, sweet, in sauce, dairy and cooked). A total of 209 participants will be included across acute geriatric, rehabilitation and long-term care units (35 participants in step 1, 35 participants in step 2 and 174 participants in step 3, with the 35 participants from step 2 included in the step 3 population). Descriptive and comparative analyses will be performed according to a predefined statistical analysis plan. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was approved by the Comité de Protection des Personnes (CPP) Île-de-France III on 11 September 2025 (approval number: 25.02467.000911-2025-A00795-44), in accordance with French legislation. All participants will provide informed non-opposition in accordance with national regulations. The results of the primary and secondary objectives will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and communication with clinical stakeholders. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05734586.
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BibTeX
@article{massederagon2026adaptation,
title = {{Adaptation and evaluation of a food preference assessment tool for older adults in geriatric care: the DYSPHAGING Preferences study protocol}},
author = {Nicolas Massé-Deragon and Stéphanie Tripoz-Dit-Masson and Coline Gréhalle and Fabien Subtil and Héloïse Rouze and Cécile Grilot and Salima Merazga and Karine Goldet and Olivier Durlach and Sophie Schir and Marine Haution-Bitker and Marion Merdinian and Claire Falandry},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2026-120395},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05799786v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Adaptation and evaluation of a food preference assessment tool for older adults in geriatric care: the DYSPHAGING Preferences study protocol
AU - Nicolas Massé-Deragon
AU - Stéphanie Tripoz-Dit-Masson
AU - Coline Gréhalle
AU - Fabien Subtil
AU - Héloïse Rouze
AU - Cécile Grilot
AU - Salima Merazga
AU - Karine Goldet
AU - Olivier Durlach
AU - Sophie Schir
AU - Marine Haution-Bitker
AU - Marion Merdinian
AU - Claire Falandry
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-120395
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05799786v1
AB - INTRODUCTION: Undernutrition is a major concern in older adults due to its multifactorial origins and its impact on morbidity and mortality. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common in frail geriatric patients and contributes to undernutrition by prompting individuals to progressively withdraw foods from their diet, leading to dietary imbalance and potential complications. Although texture adaptation and nutritional strategies are widely implemented in clinical practice, little is known about the actual food preferences of hospitalised older adults with dysphagia. Existing tools to assess food preferences are scarce and poorly adapted to the heterogeneity and sensory impairments of this population. The DYSPHAGING Preferences study aims to develop a food-preference assessment tool specifically tailored to hospitalised older adults, assess its test-retest reliability and describe food preferences measured using this adapted instrument. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The DYSPHAGING Preferences study is designed as a prospective, multicentre, non-comparative protocol consisting of three steps. Step 1 will adapt a forced-choice questionnaire-initially developed for paediatric populations-to adults aged≥70 years hospitalised in geriatric wards, by assessing visual and lexical recognition of pre-selected food items. Step 2 will evaluate the test-retest reliability and practical feasibility of administering the preference questionnaire in a new cohort of older adults. Step 3 will be a cross-sectional study describing food preferences and comparing Preference Indexes between participants screening positive and screening negative for dysphagia using the Eating Assessment Tool-10. The questionnaire will include six categories of food (acidic, textured, sweet, in sauce, dairy and cooked). A total of 209 participants will be included across acute geriatric, rehabilitation and long-term care units (35 participants in step 1, 35 participants in step 2 and 174 participants in step 3, with the 35 participants from step 2 included in the step 3 population). Descriptive and comparative analyses will be performed according to a predefined statistical analysis plan. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was approved by the Comité de Protection des Personnes (CPP) Île-de-France III on 11 September 2025 (approval number: 25.02467.000911-2025-A00795-44), in accordance with French legislation. All participants will provide informed non-opposition in accordance with national regulations. The results of the primary and secondary objectives will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and communication with clinical stakeholders. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05734586.
SN - 2044-6055
ER -