Objectives The EPIC intervention (Lee, 2002), is a multifaceted knowledge translation intervention that combines evidence and continuous quality improvement to change health professional practices. As components of this intervention are complex, there is a need to evaluate the intervention process by assessing the extent to which the intervention was implemented as planned (i.e. fidelity) and the feasibility of implementation. The objective of this study is to develop and validate the Process Evaluation Checklist (PEC) to assess the fidelity and feasibility of implementing the EPIC intervention in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Methods Face validity of the PEC was determined by co-investigators of the CIHR Team in Children’s Pain (Stevens, et al. 2006). To establish content validity, domains of the process evaluation of the PEC will be sent electronically to experts who have participated in the EPIC intervention. Quantification of content validity will be achieved using a content validity index (CVI).

Results Based on feedback regarding face validity of the PEC, items in the checklist that were confusing were re-worded, clarified, refined, reduced and arranged in a suitable sequence. Comments were minor and focused on the structure/layout of the questions. Results from the content validity ratings from experts will be used to further refine the PEC.

Conclusions Implementation of the EPIC intervention using a validated process evaluation measure will provide information about the fidelity and feasibility of processes when delivering the EPIC intervention and will allow future studies to replicate the EPIC intervention in a variety of settings and conditions.