Nutrition screening tools for people experiencing homelessness: a scoping review of existing evidence

Background People experiencing homelessness (PEH) are at risk of malnutrition, yet it is unclear whether general-population nutrition screening tools identify this risk. This scoping review aimed to map nutrition screening conducted among PEH, identify evidence gaps and inform future research.Methods This review was informed by Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and reported following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycINFO) were searched for English-language peer-reviewed publications and conference abstracts from inception to 10 March 2026, supplemented by grey literature searching. Studies reporting primary data on the use of a structured nutrition screening tool among adult PEH in socio-economically developed countries were eligible. Data were charted and summarised descriptively.Results Of 339 database records and 430 grey literature sources, four studies (423 participants, 394 PEH) were included, published between 2013 and 2026 in three countries. One study, available only as an abstract, included PEH as a subgroup (13 of 42 participants) and did not report PEH results separately. Researchers used or adapted established nutrition screening tools. One study used the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, one used a modified tool based on self-reported weight loss, one used the full Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and one an adapted MNA-Short Form. Heterogeneity limited comparability across studies.Conclusion This review is the first to examine published evidence on nutrition screening practices among PEH. The limited evidence itself is a critical finding, highlighting a gap that may contribute to health inequity and unmet nutritional needs within PEH. No nutrition screening tool validated for use in PEH was found. Future research should evaluate how existing tools perform in this population and explore whether a co-developed population-specific tool would be feasible and effective in improving identification of nutrition risk.