Development, assessment, and monitoring of audiologic treatment fidelity in the aging and cognitive health evaluation in elders (ACHIEVE) randomised controlled trial.
Michelle L Arnold, William Haley, Frank R Lin and 8 others
PMID 34533430WHAT IT FOUND
The ACHIEVE hearing intervention fidelity plan met 96% of recommended NIH behavioral fidelity criteria.
Raters noted gaps in provider hiring details and in describing other effects not specific to the active treatment. This is quality control, not evidence that the hearing intervention slows cognitive decline.
Key findings
01Nine respondents completed the fidelity checklist, including two graduate student audiology clinicians and one speech-language pathologist not part of the study.
02The ACHIEVE hearing intervention fidelity plan satisfied 96% of recommended NIH behavioral fidelity criteria.
03Reviewers identified gaps in clarity about provider hiring fit and in assessing effects not specific to the active treatment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This paper reports a fidelity plan and checklist ratings, not results from older adults receiving the intervention. The 96% rating came from nine raters, most of them ACHIEVE staff, and the authors expected high adherence. The hearing intervention includes hearing devices, assistive technology, goal setting, counselling, and self-management training, so no single component can be credited. The comparison group receives health education and stretching, so any later difference between groups could involve education, attention, or physical activity. The paper does not report actual participant adherence, provider drift, or trial outcomes.
Declared interests
The paper is listed as supported by NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support. No author conflict-of-interest declaration is provided.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 96% fidelity rating as proof that the hearing intervention prevents cognitive decline. The paper reports a plan checklist and rater agreement, not patient outcomes.