Assessing fidelity to evidence-based practices in usual care: The example of family therapy for adolescent behavior problems

Aaron Hogue and Sarah Dauber

Evaluation and Program Planning, 2013, vol. 37, issue C, 21-30

Abstract: This study describes a multimethod evaluation of treatment fidelity to the family therapy (FT) approach demonstrated by front-line therapists in a community behavioral health clinic that utilized FT as its routine standard of care. Study cases (N=50) were adolescents with conduct and/or substance use problems randomly assigned to routine family therapy (RFT) or to a treatment-as-usual clinic not aligned with the FT approach (TAU). Observational analyses showed that RFT therapists consistently achieved a level of adherence to core FT techniques comparable to the adherence benchmark established during an efficacy trial of a research-based FT. Analyses of therapist-report measures found that compared to TAU, RFT demonstrated strong adherence to FT and differentiation from three other evidence-based practices: cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and drug counseling. Implications for rigorous fidelity assessments of evidence-based practices in usual care settings are discussed.

Keywords: Treatment fidelity; Usual care; Family therapy; Adolescent behavior problems; Evidence-based practice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:epplan:v:37:y:2013:i:c:p:21-30

DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2012.12.001

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