ADOPTION OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES: A CASE STUDY

摘要

Understanding the process through which new ideas propagate through a population of potential adopters has been the focus of many research efforts. Of all the approaches and theories, the diffusion theory described by E.M. Rogers is widely used in application to many domains including Healthcare. Viewing adoption from a System Dynamics perspective has also been studied extensively. A simple model of diffusion of new ideas along the model introduced by F.M. Bass has extensively been used in System Dynamics literature. In terms of Health Technology adoption J.B. Homer developed a comprehensive model consisting of 150 endogenous equations and 90 exogenous constants. The problem with using the Bass model for analysis of adoption of Health Technology is that it is simply not possible to analyse enough of the dynamic parameters in the process. The Homer model, on the other hand is far too detailed to allow for investigative analysis of an adoption case, or to compare a dynamic parameter across a number of cases. This study therefore develops and describes a System Dynamics model as part of the exploratory research method employed which is more specific than the former but less onerous to configure than the latter. In developing the model, a specific case of adoption of a novel full body X-ray scanner is analysed and used to elucidate the various sub-process and influences within the model. This paper shows how data gathered from the case study is used to systematically construct the dynamic processes which define the innovation-decision process as describe by Rogers. In using the specific case of an innovation which involves a device that is used multiple times (fixed equipment), the model addresses a new dynamic environment. Previous studies have all focused on single-use devices in the health care environment, implants or pharmaceutical product where there is a direct relationship between sale and use of the product. In the case of fixed equipment in this environment, the operational cost associated with each additional use/event is small in comparison with the initial cost of acquiring and installing the device. Furthermore, with fixed equipment the sale of the unit in no way describes the extent of use. This dynamic, in the main constitutes the contribution of this paper to the understanding of the innovation adoption domain.