title: Intervention fidelity: lessons learned from an unsuccessful pilot study.
abstract: Although the design of the study we undertook was randomized, the groups were statistically similar, the intervention was based on evidence of previous efficacy, and the treatment was delivered exactly as planned, this pilot study on an intervention to promote motivation for weight loss in new mothers failed to produce an effect. A closer examination using criteria for intervention fidelity revealed a number of weaknesses. Both treatment integrity and differentiation merit careful consideration in intervention design.
authors.affiliation: PhD and MS-PhD Programs, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. margaret_kearney@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Margaret H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kearney
authors.forename: M Colleen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Simonelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008019:Life Style; D009042:Motivation; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000592:standards*; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D013689:Telephone; D017211:Treatment Failure; D015431:Weight Loss