A conceptual framework for implementation fidelity

Christopher Carroll¹ , Malcolm Patterson² , Stephen Wood² , Andrew Booth¹ , Jo Rick² and Shashi Balain²

¹School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

²Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

author email corresponding author email

Implementation Science 2007, 2:40doi:10.1186/1748-5908-2-40


Published:	30 November 2007

Abstract

Background

Implementation fidelity refers to the degree to which an intervention or programme is delivered as intended. Only by understanding and measuring whether an intervention has been implemented with fidelity can researchers and practitioners gain a better understanding of how and why an intervention works, and the extent to which outcomes can be improved.

Discussion

The authors undertook a critical review of existing conceptualisations of implementation fidelity and developed a new conceptual framework for understanding and measuring the process. The resulting theoretical framework requires testing by empirical research.

Summary

Implementation fidelity is an important source of variation affecting the credibility and utility of research. The conceptual framework presented here offers a means for measuring this variable and understanding its place in the process of intervention implementation.