RESEARCH PAPER The effectiveness of targeted feeding assistance to improve the nutritional intake of elderly dysphagic patients in hospital L. Wright,* D. Cotter & M. Hickson* *Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London, UK;  Department of Speech & Language Therapy, Imperial College Heathcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London, UK Ó 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation. Ó 2008 The British Dietetic Association Ltd 2008 J Hum Nutr Diet, 21, pp. 555–562 555 Correspondence Lucy Wright, Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF, UK. Tel.: +4420 8846 1445 Fax: +4420 8846 1440 E-mail: lucyj_wright@yahoo.co.uk Keywords dysphagia, elderly, feeding assistance, hospital, nutritional intake. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-277X.2008.00915.x Abstract Background Dysphagic older patients are prescribed texture mod- ified food or fluids as treatment. The present study aimed to deter- mine whether targeted feeding assistance using trained volunteers increased oral intake in elderly dysphagic patients. Method Individualized feeding assistance was given to patients who were diagnosed with dysphagia by a speech and language ther- apist. Data were collected between 08.00 h and 16.00 h and compared with previously collected data from dysphagic patients who received no targeted feeding assistance. Results The group with targeted assistance (n = 16) had higher intakes of energy and protein from both meals and supplements combined compared to the controls (n = 30); mean differ- ence = 2327 kJ (554 kcal) (95% CI = 1294–3360 kJ; P < 0.001) and 28 g protein (95% CI = 13–41 g; P = 0.01). The assisted group ate more from meals only; mean difference = 1336 kJ (318 kcal) (95% Cl = 517–2155 kJ; P = 0.002) and 6 g of protein (95% Cl = 2–26 g; P = 0.02); and from nutritional supplements only, median differ- ence = 1205 kJ (287 kcal) (95% CI = 613–1273 kJ; P = 0.0002) and 15 g protein (95% CI 6.9–15 g; P < 0.0001). Conclusion Nutritional intake can be improved by targeted feeding assistance in hospitalized elderly dysphagic patients on texture modified diets. The Official Journal of The British Dietetic Association Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics