Global Results from the Fidelity Assessment of Six Friends in Nature Intervention Studies

Abstract The RECETAS project aims to test the Friends in Nature (FIN) intervention in 6 different countries and target populations through 3 pre-post studies (France, Ecuador and Australia) and 3 randomized controlled trials (Finland, Spain and Czech Republic). Given that FIN is a complex intervention implemented and adapted in 6 different socio-economic and cultural contexts, process evaluation is a key element shared by the six studies. This presentation aims to report and discuss how implementation fidelity was structured and the results obtained across sites. A fidelity checklist was created jointly by all involved partners to capture the key components of the intervention. Quantitative data on the degree of implementation of each component were collected at group level for each group undergoing FIN. The checklist comprised the individual components of FIN (interview and empowerment letter), group structure (group size, number of sessions and number of facilitators) and group process in terms of mentoring (in-site visits and learning diary) and group dynamics (empowerment and group climate, nature-based activities, dynamics on loneliness and social connection and continuation of the group). A high degree of fidelity was reported across components and sites, meaning FIN can be adapted and implemented in different contexts while maintaining its core values. Although relevant adaptations were planned before the implementation, assessing fidelity helped us to identify specific challenges that require further adaptation of procedures to certain populations.