Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment: Fidelity and Implementation over Time

Effective evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation is crucial to eliminating the science-to-service gap and getting the research into a usable form for social workers and other practitioners. When EBPs are developed, their implementation over time in large-scale models is often not well researched or understood. In an analysis of integrated dual disorder treatment (IDDT) implementation and fidelity for 2006–2012 among 68 teams in one entire state, fidelity significantly improved each year for both baseline reviews [F(6, 57) = 5.62, p < .001] and second reviews [F(3, 33) = 2.71, p = .03]. IDDT teams that first implemented later in time had significantly higher baseline fidelity scores than early or mid-adopter teams [F(2, 61) = 10.15, p < .001]. However, teams varied significantly in their baseline review and growth in review between occurrences. This suggests that IDDT and other EBPs can be successfully implemented over time. The article provides information on ways to support teams with training, policy support, and contractual incentives.