Application of diffusion of innovation to health
The use of Diffusion of Innovation has been used to address various health issues such as:
Hiv/ Aids In developing country:
In 1998 there was a study done by Rao and Svenkerud in Dangkok using the diffusion of innovation model to prevent HIV/ AIDS. The program recruited members of unique populations to reach out to peers with life-saving information about condom use. With respect to the theory the authors realized that the outreach workers should be homophilous or are opinion leaders in the community they are looking to reach too. The program was a success and had showed a decrease in the community cases of HIV/ AIDS. (Bertrand, 2004)
Obesity
According to an article from 2004, The diffusion of innovation theory was used to implement obesity prevention and motivations for healthier lifestyles into schools. Schools have been working to decrease obesity rates of students throughout the U.S. and according to the article challenges while adopting obesity prevention programs certainly arose. The diffusion of innovation was used to address these problems as schools adopted the Planet Health curriculum and in turn developed partnerships with those specialists of Planet Health. Starting in only a small amount of schools this health program soon adapted to many others. (Wiecha, et. al, 2004)
Tobacco free
A major example of the theory of diffusion of innovation that we are currently seeing come to life here at NMU is the act of college campuses going tobacco free. In a research study done at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill published in 2010 the topic of colleges going tobacco free in order to keep their campuses and students healthier, diffusion of innovation came into play. It was determined the innovation of a lowered smoking rate would expand to other campuses and be accepted by other students through state-wide involvement that would replace uncertainty with information on the topic. (Lee, et. al, 2010)
Nursing regulatory policy
There was a need for properly training child care providers in medication administration on whether it should be reclassified as an activity or delegated by licensed practice nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs). Both Connecticut and New Jersey utilized the diffusion of innovation theory in whether to adopt the practice of medication administration for child care providers. The Connecticut Board of Nursing determined that in these facilities that the skill of teaching medication administration to unlicensed individuals should not involve nursing delegation and should rather be a professional nursing activity. In comparison, the New Jersey Board of Nursing read and considered Connecticut's conclusion and still, interestingly, came to the same conclusion. (Torre and Crowley, 2011)
telemedicine
It was explored whether Missouri physicians' perspectives about the use of medicine would be a potential solution in addressing concerns of an aging, rural patient population. All 5 attributes of the diffusion of innovation theory were used; however, it was found that these attributes were not sufficient to fully explain the willingness to adopt telemedicine. The findings revealed that physicians, users, and nonusers are influenced by the benefits to their medical practice.
(Craig, 2013)
(Craig, 2013)