Factors influencing the adoption of an innovation: An examination of the uptake of the Canadian Heart Health Kit (HHK)

Abstract

Background: There is an emerging knowledge base on the effectiveness of strategies to close the knowledge-practice gap. However, less is known about how attributes of an innovation and other contextual and situational factors facilitate and impede an innovation's adoption. The Healthy Heart Kit (HHK) is a risk management and patient education resource for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and promotion of cardiovascular health. Although previous studies have demonstrated the HHK's content validity and practical utility, no published study has examined physicians' uptake of the HHK and factors that shape its adoption.

Characteristics of a successful collaboration in evaluation of a health care innovation: lessons learned from GPS locator technology for dementia clients

“…17 Of the five characteristics, relative advantage and observability have been identified as the most influential factors for implementation. 20 This is supported by previous findings where an innovation that meets a recognized need and is perceived to be compatible with organizational and individual beliefs and values is more likely to be implemented. 24,25,26 Implementation is also catalyzed by innovations that are simple, straightforward and demonstrate reduced risk.…”

“…20 This is supported by previous findings where an innovation that meets a recognized need and is perceived to be compatible with organizational and individual beliefs and values is more likely to be implemented. 24,25,26 Implementation is also catalyzed by innovations that are simple, straightforward and demonstrate reduced risk. 19 Lastly, innovations piloted on a smaller scale to gauge impact and produce positive, observable outcomes are more readily accepted and implemented.…”

“…Scott et al found that excessive external control negatively impacts implementation by restricting creativity and novelty, which are optimized when an organization has open processes and worker autonomy. 20 Finally, successful and efficient implementation is contingent on the effectiveness and support of senior management and clinical leadership, credible evidence, innovation infrastructure for the translation of research into practice and the extent to which organizational culture change is required. 21 …”

“…20,24 Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Theory posits five characteristics of an innovation that influence its adoption and implementation: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability. 17 Of the five characteristics, relative advantage and observability have been identified as the most influential factors for implementation.…”

Fewer Family Physicians Are in Solo Practices

“…3 Other research suggests that solo physicians experience more environmental and individual barriers to the adoption of innovation. 4 7 With recent evidence indicating that small practices (1 or 2 physicians) have fewer preventable hospital admissions 8 and a systematic review finding little evidence that small practices have worse quality, 9 studying this trend will be important to determine its underpinning reasons and its impact on access to and quality of care. If solo family physicians are an endangered species, we need to understand what it means and why it is happening because once they are gone, they will be difficult to revive.…”