Abstract
Intervention fidelity is crucial to facilitate accurate interpretation of research outcomes, but has been inadequately addressed within complex health behaviour change interventions. Recent research has highlighted a need for practical guidance to improve understanding and use of existing fidelity frameworks and models within complex health behaviour change intervention research. The aim of this paper is to present a protocol for a scoping review of existing intervention fidelity frameworks and models. In accordance with scoping review guidelines, the following stages will be conducted: (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying potentially relevant studies of fidelity frameworks and models, (3) study screening and selection, (4) charting and extracting data from identified frameworks and models, (5) collating, summarising and reporting the results and (6) consultation with stakeholders. Two reviewers will independently conduct the screening and extraction stages. Identified frameworks will be collated, summarized and categorized iteratively by one reviewer in consultation with the review team. The findings of this review will provide a useful resource by identifying and comparing existing fidelity frameworks and models. It is intended that increased clarity and understanding in this area will facilitate the appropriate selection and application of fidelity frameworks for complex health behaviour change interventions, inform areas for future research, and ultimately contribute towards improving how intervention fidelity is addressed in this area.
Highlights
Intervention fidelity refers to the degree to which an intervention is implemented as intended by its developers[1], or “the methodological strategies used to enhance and monitor the reliability and validity of behavioural interventions”[2]
Enhancing and assessing fidelity is a crucial component of complex health behaviour change intervention research, as it facilitates an accurate evaluation of research outcomes[1,5]
Addressing intervention fidelity in terms of enhancement, assessment and reporting becomes important for complex health behaviour change interventions, where numerous interacting components are present[7] and the exact mechanisms of action of the intervention may not always be well specified[8,9]
Summary
Intervention fidelity refers to the degree to which an intervention is implemented as intended by its developers[1], or “the methodological strategies used to enhance and monitor the reliability and validity of behavioural interventions”[2]. Enhancing and assessing fidelity is a crucial component of complex health behaviour change intervention research, as it facilitates an accurate evaluation of research outcomes[1,5]. Addressing intervention fidelity in terms of enhancement, assessment and reporting becomes important for complex health behaviour change interventions, where numerous interacting components are present[7] and the exact mechanisms of action of the intervention may not always be well specified[8,9]. Theories and frameworks have particular importance for the development, evaluation and implementation of complex health behaviour change interventions as they can facilitate a better understanding of these causal mechanisms, and of how such interventions do or do not work[5,9]. The use of such theories and frameworks within behaviour change intervention research in terms of study design, measurement, implementation and interpretation is often poorly done[10,11,12]
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