Promoting and Measuring Fidelity of Occupational Therapy Interventions: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The fidelity of interventions is essential for research, but there is little understanding about how intervention fidelity can be promoted and monitored in clinical practice. This review aimed to establish the methods used to promote and monitor the fidelity of occupational therapy interventions implemented within clinical practice. The scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) five-stage methodological framework. Four databases were searched, and included papers had a primary focus on the fidelity of an occupational therapy intervention implemented within clinical practice. Fifty-nine articles described a combination of supports including, therapist training (n = 39), manuals or protocols (n = 24), supervision or mentoring (n = 24), checklists and rating scales (n = 46), and video and audio recordings (n =18). Implementation fidelity of occupational therapy interventions within clinical practice requires a combination of approaches, with the use of checklists and discussion within supervision as a sustainable strategy.