Development of a Fidelity Measure for Research on the Effectiveness of the Ayres Sensory Integration® Intervention

Abstract

Reliability of the process section was strong for total fidelity score (ICC = .99, Cronbach's alpha = .99) and acceptable for most items. Total score significantly differentiated ASI from four alternative interventions. Expert ratings indicated strong agreement that items in the structural and process sections represent ASI intervention. CONCLUSION. The Ayres Sensory Integration Fidelity Measure has strong content validity. The process section is reliable and valid when scored by trained raters with expertise in ASI.

Dissemination: Bringing Translational Research to Completion

“…As a result, approaches have varied across settings in important ways. A well-designed fidelity measure has recently been published (Parham et al, 2011), however, and its use is likely to ensure greater consistency and fidelity in the application of sensory integration procedures.…”

Interrater Reliability and Discriminative Validity of the Structural Elements of the Ayres Sensory Integration® Fidelity Measure©

“…It consisted of 28 items categorized under five headings: (1) therapist qualifications, including postprofessional training in sensory integration and clinical experience or supervision in OT-SI; (2) components of the occupational therapy assessment report, including history, occupational profile, and evaluation of sensory integration functions; (3) physical environment and equipment, including space for vigorous as well as quiet activity; (4) provisions for safety of therapeutic equipment; and (5) communication with parents and teachers, including collaborative goal setting and family or teacher education. As part of the development of the ASIFM, a content validity study was conducted on these 28 structural items (Parham et al, 2011). Ratings by international experts in OT-SI strongly agreed that each structural item was essential for the provision of OT-SI.…”

“…The final version of the structural section of the ASIFM (Parham et al, 2011) was converted into a survey format consisting of background and demographic questions (Table 1) and the four structural section subcomponents: Part I (Safe Environment), Part II (Assessment Reports), Part III (Physical Space and Equipment), and Part IV (Communication With Parents and Teachers) ( Table 2). All parts were scored dichotomously (yes 5 2, no 5 0).…”

“…Interrater reliability of the total process score is high (intraclass correlation coefficient 5 .99), and the total process score discriminates between OT-SI and non-OT-SI videotaped intervention sessions (Parham et al, 2011). The current effort evaluated the structural section of this measure; thus, the purposes of this article are to describe the development and content of the structural section of the ASIFM and to present evidence for the reliability and validity of ASIFM items that measure structural elements.…”

“…The Ayres Sensory Integration Ò Fidelity Measure Ó (ASIFM) evaluates the structural and process elements that are central to the delivery of occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration intervention principles (OT-SI; Parham et al, 2011). The process elements address the dynamics of therapistchild interaction during occupational therapy sessions.…”