Content Validity of a Process Evaluation Checklist to Measure Intervention Implementation Fidelity of the EPIC Intervention

Background: The Evidence-Based Practice Identification and Change (EPIC) intervention is a complex multifaceted knowledge translation strategy that combines the use of evidence and continuous quality improvement to change health care professional practices. However, there is no measure to evaluate the fidelity (degree to which the intervention was implemented as planned) of the EPIC intervention. Aim: To examine the content validity of the Process Evaluation Checklist (PEC), a newly developed measure to assess the fidelity of the EPIC intervention. Methods: Eight health care professionals with experience in the delivery of the EPIC intervention rated the importance/relevance of items in assessing the scale/subscales of the PEC. A content validity index was computed for each item (I-CVI) and for each scale/subscale (S-CVI) in the measure. Results: I-CVIs ranged from 0.6 to 1.0 and S-CVIs ranged from 0.3 to 1.0. Two items were eliminated, while nine items were retained. Conclusions: Content validity of the PEC was established. The PEC will be used to evaluate the implementation fidelity of the EPIC intervention in future trials.