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Development of a Fidelity Instrument for Delivering the Alert Program® for Self-Regulation
Dianne Blackwell1,2, Alison E Lane1,2, Kelsey Philpott-Robinson1,2
1University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Insights
A new fidelity measure ensures consistent delivery of the Alert Program (AP) for children with self-regulation challenges. This tool supports reliable implementation in research and practice.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Educational Interventions
- Implementation Science
Background:
- The Alert Program (AP) is a common intervention for children facing self-regulation difficulties.
- Inconsistent application of the AP may impact its effectiveness.
- A standardized measure is crucial for consistent AP delivery in research and clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a fidelity measure for the Alert Program.
- To assess the consistent implementation of the AP for children with self-regulation needs.
Main Methods:
- A narrative literature review guided by SANRA standards was performed within an implementation framework.
- Key structural, process, and content elements of AP delivery were identified.
- A preliminary fidelity measure was refined through expert review and inter-rater reliability testing.
Main Results:
- The literature review encompassed 14 studies, revealing varied adherence to fidelity elements.
- Expert review achieved 93.4% consensus on essential AP components.
- Independent raters demonstrated 91% agreement during inter-rater reliability testing.
Conclusions:
- A validated fidelity measure for the Alert Program has been developed.
- This measure will enhance the reliability of AP research and practice.
- It provides a tool for practitioners to ensure consistent AP implementation for children's self-regulation.
Abstract:
Rationale/Background: The Alert Program® (AP) is widely used to support children with self-regulation challenges, yet inconsistent implementation may affect outcomes. A standardized fidelity measure is needed to ensure consistent delivery across research and practice settings. Objectives: To develop and validate a fidelity measure for assessing AP implementation for children with self-regulation needs. Methodology: Using an implementation framework, we conducted a narrative literature review following SANRA guidelines to identify structural, process, and content elements essential to AP delivery. A preliminary fidelity measure underwent expert review, revision, and inter-rater reliability assessment. Results: The literature review identified 14 studies with varying coverage of fidelity elements. Expert review (n = 4) demonstrated 93.4% agreement on core elements. Inter-rater reliability assessment showed 91% agreement between independent raters. Conclusion: The developed fidelity measure provides a foundation for research using the AP and offers practitioners a method to ensure implementation consistency in supporting children with self-regulation challenges.
