An evaluation of treatment integrity in a randomised controlled trial of memory rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Objective: To assess the treatment integrity of a memory rehabilitation programme for people with multiple sclerosis. Subjects: Data were drawn from the intervention group of a randomised controlled trial of memory rehabilitation. This comprised 24 participants with multiple sclerosis. Measures: Four core session components were identified from the treatment manual: recap, activities, take-home activity and other. One video-recording of each of ten intervention sessions was transcribed and amount of time spent on components recorded. Results: There were no significant differences between early and late stages of the programme in time spent on the core components (recap Z= −0.87, P=0.49; activities Z = −0.29, P=0.89; take-home activity Z = −0.59, P=0.69; other Z = −0.58, P=0.69). Thus, adherence to the manual was good with no evidence of programme drift. Conclusions: Good adherence indicates the intervention was delivered as described in the manual and strengthens confidence in the findings of the randomised controlled trial.