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Table 3 Definitions, framework and commonly measured components in systematic reviews on fidelity of healthcare interventions (n = 41)

From: Implementability of healthcare interventions: an overview of reviews and development of a conceptual framework

Frameworks (used in N = 34 reviews)

N (%)

• Dane & Schneider (1998)

Fidelity of intervention should include a measure of adherence to the program, dose, quality of program delivery, participant responsiveness and program differentiation.

7 (21)

• Borrelli et al., (2005). National Institute of Health Behavioral Change Consortium

Treatment fidelity should be assessed using 5 categories including design, training, delivery, receipt and enactment.

19 (56)

• Carroll et al., (2007)

Implementation fidelity should include the measurement of adherence (content, frequency, duration and coverage) and moderators (intervention complexity, facilitation strategies, quality of delivery and participant responsiveness).

2 (6)

• Steckler & Linnan (2002)

Public health interventions should be measured and evaluated against seven different components including context, reach, dose delivered, dose received, fidelity, implementation and recruitment.

2 (6)

• Moncher & Prinz (1991)

Fidelity requires a clear definition of the treatment, training in delivery of the protocol, treatment manuals, supervision and adherence to the treatment protocol through treatment verification.

2 (6)

• Sidani & Sechrest (1999)

Fidelity of implementation should include conceptualisation of the problem, operationalisation of the theory and specification of mediating processes and outcome variables.

1 (3)

• Perepletchikova, Treat & Kazdin (2007). Implementation of Treatment Integrity Procedures Scale (ITIPS)

Evaluation of treatment integrity in psychotherapy research should include four domains: establishing, assessing, evaluating and reporting fidelity along with therapist treatment adherence and competence

1 (3)

Commonly measured components

• Dosage

31 (76)

• Adherence/compliance

31 (76)

• Quality

9 (22)

• Responsiveness

31 (76)

• Training

20 (49)

• Other (program differentiation, supervision, treatment manual, environmental design, therapist qualifications, theory)

11 (27)