Adherence Section
CONSORT 2025 explanation material treats intervention delivery, fidelity, and adherence as important reporting information because what participants actually received can differ from what was planned. Adherence definitions and useful measures depend on the intervention. Do not impose a drug-trial adherence metric on every study design.
An Adherence section reports how closely participants or intervention providers followed the assigned intervention or protocol-relevant regimen.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Adherence definitions and useful measures depend on the intervention. Do not impose a drug-trial adherence metric on every study design.
Further guidance
Content
Describe the adherence concept, measurement method, relevant time period, and group-specific results where appropriate; distinguish participant adherence from provider fidelity when both matter.
Purpose
Show whether the intervention was received or delivered as intended and how adherence or fidelity was assessed.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- CONSORT 2025 explanation and elaboration: updated guideline for reporting randomised trials (opens in a new tab)BMJ / CONSORT Group · Primary CONSORT 2025 explanation and elaboration for reporting randomized trials, including intervention adherence, deviations, harms, analyses, and result reporting detail.