Assessing Fidelity of a Community-Based Opioid Overdose Prevention Program: Modification of the Fidelity Checklist

Area of Science:

• Intervention research methodology
• Health services research
• Program evaluation

Background:

• Treatment fidelity is crucial for intervention research validity.
• The Fidelity Checklist measures adherence and competence in group programs.
• Lack of fidelity can introduce significant research error.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically modify the Fidelity Checklist for a specific community-based opioid overdose prevention intervention.
• To adapt an existing tool for a new application in public health.

Main Methods:

• A biphasic approach was employed for checklist modification.
• Phase 1 involved stakeholder input for adherence components.
• Phase 2 included modifying the competence subscale, adapting the coding manual, and creating a guide for interventionists.

Main Results:

• A revised Fidelity Checklist was developed through a systematic modification process.
• The modified checklist was successfully implemented to measure treatment fidelity.
• The tool proved effective for a community-based opioid overdose prevention program.

Conclusions:

• The systematic modification process yielded a usable Fidelity Checklist for opioid overdose prevention.
• This research offers a model for adapting fidelity measures in community-based educational settings.
• Nurse researchers and educators can utilize these findings to enhance intervention fidelity.