Intervention fidelity.
BACKGROUND
Although an assumption of consistency in intervention delivery is key to the conclusion that the findings are valid, attention to both interventionist adherence and competence has not become a standard in nursing intervention research.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to describe the technology model of intervention fidelity as it applies to psychosocial interventions, and to propose its application in nursing intervention research as a way to support accurate conclusions about validity.


METHODS
The features and methods of the Technology Model of intervention fidelity were reviewed. The review included development of a manual, training and supervision of interventionists, measurement of intervention fidelity, and inclusion of intervention fidelity as an independent variable in the analysis.


RESULTS
The Technology Model and the associated methodologies that have been used to monitor psychosocial intervention fidelity in psychiatry can be adapted and applied by nursing. Monitoring costs can be managed through use of a general system that can be applied across programmatic or related studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of the Technology Model of intervention fidelity could advance the maturation of nursing intervention research and evidence-based clinical practice.
Santacroce
Sheila Judge
SJ
School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06536-0740, USA. sheila.santacroce@yale.edu
Maccarelli
Lisa M
LM
Grey
Margaret
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015982:Bias; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000523:psychology