title: Fidelity and acceptability of an adaptive intervention for caregivers: an exploratory study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There has been growing interest in providing tailored or adaptive interventions to family caregivers as a way of addressing their heterogeneity of risk factors and other needs. A particular challenge in an adaptive study is to implement the individualized intervention protocol as planned (program fidelity). This study explores the fidelity of implementation of an adaptive intervention for family caregivers of persons with dementia and its acceptability to caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a sample of 35 caregivers of person with dementia who participated in a program development study, we gathered information on acceptability and fidelity of the program from multiple sources, including caregiver and counselor reports and ratings of recordings of sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings show that caregivers have high levels of acceptance of the intervention plan and high ratings of satisfaction with the program. Ratings of satisfaction and counselor competence were not associated with the amount of treatment provided. Ratings by counselors and independent raters found good fidelity for two of the three program domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate that trained counselors can follow a tailored intervention plan and that caregivers' experience of the program did not differ depending on how much intervention was provided. A next step is to determine how an adaptive protocol would affect caregiver outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA. szarit@psu.edu
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Zarit
authors.forename: Jeong E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mary J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Barrineau
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Whitlatch
authors.forename: Elia E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Femia
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome