Abstract: Objective To develop a preliminary version of screening and assessment tool for malnutrition in Chinese elderly. Methods An item pool was established after literature review and panel discussion. The items were screened by using Delphi method.Experts in geriatrics and related regions were invited. Two rounds of survey questionnaire were implemented by form of Email. Experts were required to evaluate the items in terms of their importance and provide basis of judgement and degree of familiarity.A preliminary version of screening and assessment tool was determined after the items were screened according to average importance value, coefficient of variation and full score ratio. Results Sixteen and fifteen survey questionnaires were completed for the two rounds of consultation and the coefficients of positivity were 100% and 93.75%. In the first round, the degrees of authority were 0.96±0.05 and 0.95±0.06, the average importance scores of items being 4.53±0.19 and 4.19±0.38, the coefficients of variation being (19.38±4.89)% and (24.67±8.47)%, the full score ratios being (72.62±12.12)% and (51.39 ±17.19)%, and Kendall coordination coefficients being 0.429 and 0.381(P＜0.001) for screening and assessment questionnaire. In the second round, the degrees of authority were 0. 96±0.06 and 0. 95±0.06, the average importance scores of items being 4.65±0.20 and 4.60±0.25, the coefficients of variation being (13.37±6.23)% and (14.43±6.56)%, the full score ratios being (73.83±15.03)% and (71.24±17.36)%, and Kendall coordination coefficients being 0.319 and 0.228 (P＜0.001) respectively. Based on the scores and expert opinions, 10 items were finally selected for the screening tool and 17 items for the assessment tool. Conclusions A preliminary version of screening and assessment tool is established which consists of 10 items and 17 items respectively for malnutrition in the elderly by Delphi method.

Key words: aged, malnutrition, Delphi method, tool