Fidelity Assessments

This page contains links to tools for use by CBHC leaders and supervisors in assessing the fidelity to evidence-based practices.

What is fidelity to an Evidence-Based Practice?

  • Evidence-based Practices (EBPs) are interventions that when faithfully delivered, will improve valued outcomes.
  • The EBP movement for adults with serious mental illness has aimed to spread effective interventions to routine practice settings. 
  • Fidelity monitoring is a key element in the successful implementation, sustainment, and expansion of EBPs.
  • CBHCs are required to use EBPs.

Fidelity is defined as the degree to which a program (or person) implementing an EBP adheres to specific standards defined for that practice model *

* Bond, G. R., & Drake, R. E. (2020). Assessing the fidelity of evidence-based practices: History and current status of a standardized measurement methodology. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 47, 874-884

Watch these video clips from the Fidelity Tools webinar.

What is Fidelity to an Evidence-Based Practice?
Fidelity Assessment Tools
Best Practices

Click on the Evidence-Based Practice below for recommended fidelity tools and resources.

Fidelity Assessment for Motivational Interviewing

Tools:

Motivational Interviewing Assessment – Supervisory Tools for Enhancing Proficiency (MIA-STEP): Toolkit and training package for supervisors in clinical settings, audiotaped treatment sessions & supervisory rating guide, English and Spanish materials.

Motivational Interviewing Skill Code (MISC): Used for evaluating the quality of MI from audiotapes and videotapes of individual counseling sessions. Typically more useful in conducting detailed process research.

Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity 3.1.1 (MITI 3.1.1): A coding system for use in research

that also provides feedback to increase MI skills in non-research settings.

Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment (MICA): Provide practitioners with structured and specific feedback regarding their efforts to use MI with their clients. Allows for coding and research.

Client Evaluation of Motivational Interviewing Scale (CEMI): 11 item Likert scale used for clients to provide feedback and input on the MI approach.

Video Assessment of Simulated Encounters – Revised (VASE-R): A video-based method for assessing MI skills. The VASE-R includes 18 items that produce a total score and five subscale scores (i.e., Reflective Listening, Responding to Resistance, Summarizing, Eliciting Change Talk, & Developing Discrepancy).

Assessment of Motivational Interviewing Groups – Observer Scale (AMIGOS – v 1.2): Three scales -18 items documenting group processes, MI, and client-centered style

Resources:

Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)

https://case.edu/socialwork/centerforebp/resources

Ensuring Fidelity to Motivational Interviewing Among Frontline Service Providers(free webinar and slides)

Fidelity Assessment for Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Fidelity Assessment for Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Tools:

Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale Revised (CTRS-R): Measures the way clinicians deliver CBT. Includes components of CBT such as therapeutic skills and conceptualization, strategy, and techniques.

Cognitive Therapy Scale Rating Manual

CBT Compliance Checklist

Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale-Revised Scoring Rubric

Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R) is designed to promote empowerment, recovery, and resiliency in individuals with serious mental health conditions

CT-R-Fidelity-Scale.pdf (beckinstitute.org): Measures whether a program is consistent with the CT-R model

Resources:

Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R) Training

TF-CBT PRACTICE Checklist

How to Implement Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Rodriguez-Quintana, N., & Lewis, C. C. (2018). Observational coding training methods for CBT treatment fidelity: A systematic review. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 42(4), 358–368. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-018-9898-5

Fidelity Assessment for SBIRT

Tools:

SBIRT Proficiency Checklists: Designed to be completed by an observer who determines whether the five categories of the SBIRT process (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment, Follow-Up, and MI Spirit) were present in the SBIRT session.

Fidelity Inst-SBIRT Proficiency Checklist Short form13 question checklist

Fidelity Inst-SBIRT Proficiency Checklist-Long-form22 item checklist designed to be completed by a observer who rates the provider on a scale of 1 to 5 in the five categories.

Brief Negotiated Interview – BNI Adherence Scale (BAS): provides practitioners with a brief, objective method to evaluate their BNI skills and give feedback to them about their performance.

            BNI Adherence and Competence Checklists: Versions available for alcohol, smoking, and opioids.

MD3 SBIRT Coding Scale can be used to evaluate implementation skills for fidelity, training, assessment, and research. Measures quality and fidelity of SBIRT interactions addressing alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medication misuse.

Resources:

Using Motivational Interviewing in Substance Treatment

TIP 64: Incorporating Peer Support Into Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services

Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Use Disorder Treatment

TIP 41: Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy

Are We There Yet? A Review of SBIRT Implementation and Fidelity Tools and Proficiency Checklists

Strategies to promote the implementation of SBIRT in healthcare settings – a scoping review