Intervention Fidelity in Interventions: An Integrative Literature Review

Background: Complex interventions are frequently used in health care by various providers. It is important for researchers and clinicians to monitor and assess intervention fidelity which refers to the degree to which an intervention is implemented as originally planned and intended to draw valid conclusions about whether the intervention produces the intended outcomes. Purpose: The authors undertook a review of the current literature of intervention fidelity, critically appraised the utility of the existing conceptual frameworks for intervention fidelity, and proposed an alternative framework for intervention fidelity and complex interventions. Conclusion: The proposed conceptual framework offers a means for researchers and clinicians to understand how to design and implement intervention with quality and as intended as well as identify potential moderators that may influence the implementation of an intervention. This conceptualization allows researchers and practitioners to be able to reach valid conclusions about the causal effects of the intervention on the outcomes of interest.