This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

Main objective:

To examine the effectiveness of nutritional screening in improving quality of care (professional practice) and patient outcomes compared with usual care.

Secondary questions:

The review may also contribute to answering some of the following questions:

• Are the recipients of nutritional screening willing partners (i.e. is it an acceptable intervention)?

• Are nutritional screening programmes likely to be cost‐effective?

• Are there any alternative interventions for nutritional screening that are more (cost) effective or acceptable?

• What are the characteristics of a (cost) effective nutritional screening programme?