Treatment Theory, Intervention Specification, and Treatment Fidelity in Assistive Technology Outcomes Research

ABSTRACT

Recent reports in the rehabilitation literature have suggested that treatment theory, intervention specification, and treatment fidelity have important implications for the design, results, and interpretation of outcomes research. At the same time, there has been relatively little discussion of how these concepts bear on the quality of assistive technology (AT) outcomes research. This article describes treatment theory, intervention specification, and treatment fidelity as interconnected facets of AT outcome studies that fundamentally affect the interpretation of their findings. The discussion of each is elucidated using case examples drawn from the AT outcomes research literature. Recommendations are offered for strengthening these components of AT outcomes research.

KEYWORDS:

• assistive technology
• evidence-based practice
• outcomes research
• treatment fidelity
• treatment specification
• treatment theory

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are members of the Consortium for Assistive Technology Outcomes Research (http://www.atoutcomes.org). This work has been supported in part by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research under Grants H133A010401 and H133A060062. The authors received no financial benefit from this activity. A portion of this material was presented at the International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence, February 2008, St. Petersburg, Florida.