Table 2 Nine elements of intervention fidelity adapted from Hasson et al. [7]
Element of implementation fidelity | Description |
|---|---|
Adherence | Whether an intervention is being delivered as intended |
Exposure or dose | Whether the amount of an intervention received by participants (frequency and duration) is intended |
Quality of delivery | The way that those responsible for delivering the intervention deliver it |
Participant responsiveness | How far participants respond to, or are engaged by, an intervention |
Program differentiation | Identifying unique features of different components of programs and identifying which elements are essential |
Intervention complexity | Complexity of an idea can act as a barrier to adoption - how complex is the intervention? |
Facilitation strategies | When aiming to evaluate implementation fidelity, what are the specific strategies put in place to support implementation, e.g. provision of manuals, training and incentives. How were these strategies perceived by those involved in delivery? |
• Recruitment | The recruitment strategies used to attract individuals to the intervention – what are the challenges to involvement? |
• Context | What factors at political, economic, organisational and work group levels affected implementation? |