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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Public Health Dent. 2011 WINTER;71(s1):S52–S63. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2011.00233.x

Appendix I.

Treatment Fidelity Assessment and Implementation Plan

Treatment Fidelity Strategies, Grouped by Category Rate: Present, Absent but should be present, and Not Applicable. If present, describe the strategy used for that component.
Treatment Design

  1. Provide information about treatment dose in the intervention condition

    1. Length of contact (minutes)

    2. Number of contacts

    3. Content of treatment

    4. Duration of contact over time

  2. Provide information about treatment dose in the comparison condition

    1. Length of contact (minutes)

    2. Number of contacts

    3. Content of treatment

    4. Duration of contact over time

    5. Method to ensure that dose is equivalent between conditions.1

    6. Method to ensure that dose is equivalent for participants within conditions1.

  3. Specification of provider credentials that are needed.

  4. Theoretical model upon which the intervention is based is clearly articulated.

    1. The active ingredients are specified and incorporated into the intervention 1

    2. Use of experts or protocol review group to determine whether the intervention protocol reflects the underlying theoretical model or clinical guidelines 1

    3. Plan to ensure that the measures reflect the hypothesized theoretical constructs/mechanisms of action 1

  5. Potential confounders that limit the ability to make conclusions at the end of the trial are identified? 1

  6. Plan to address possible setbacks in implementation (i.e., back-up systems or providers) 1

    If more than one intervention is described, all described equally well. 1
Training Providers

  1. Description of how providers will be trained (manual of training procedures))

  2. Standardization of provider training (especially if multiple waves of training are needed for multiple groups of providers).

  3. Assessment of provider skill acquisition.

  4. Assessment and monitoring of provider skill maintenance over time

  5. Characteristics being sought in a treatment provider are articulated a priori. Characteristics that should be avoided in a treatment provider are articulated a priori.

  6. At the hiring stage, assessment of whether or not there is a good fit between the provider and the intervention (e.g., ensure that providers find the intervention acceptable, credible and potentially efficacious 1

  7. There is a training plan that takes into account trainees’ different education and experience and learning styles. 1
Delivery of Treatment

  1. Method to ensure that the content of the intervention is delivered as specified.

  2. Method to ensure that the dose of the intervention is delivered as specified.

  3. Mechanism to assess if the provider actually adhered to the intervention plan or in the case of computer delivered interventions, method to assess participants’ contact with the information.

  4. Assessment of non-specific treatment effects.

  5. Use of treatment manual.

  6. There is a plan for the assessment of whether or not the active ingredients were delivered. 1

  7. There is a plan for the assessment of whether or not proscribed components were delivered. (e.g., components that are unnecessary or unhelpful) 1

  8. There is a plan for how will contamination between conditions be prevented. 1

  9. There is an a priori specification of treatment fidelity (e.g, providers adhere to delivering >80% of components). 1
Receipt of Treatment

  1. There is an assessment of the degree to which participants understood the intervention.

  2. There are specification of strategies that will be used to improve participant comprehension of the intervention.

  3. The participants’ ability to perform the intervention skills will be assessed during the intervention period.

  4. A strategy will be used to improve subject performance of intervention skills during the intervention period.

  5. Multicultural factors considered in the development and delivery of the intervention (e.g., provided in native language; protocol is consistent with the values of the target group). 1
Enactment of Treatment Skills

  1. Participant performance of the intervention skills will be assessed in settings in which the intervention might be applied.

  2. A strategy will be used to assess performance of the intervention skills in settings in which the intervention might be applied.
1

Revisions made by B. Borrelli February, 2010.