Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory

Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal - Part D: Implementation Plan
Name
Institution
Course
Instructor
Date
Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal - Part D: Implementation Plan
Part A: Application of an Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Model– Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory
Antimicrobial resistance is a global health issue that is negatively affecting people and health systems. India is the most affected region with an average rate of 57 percent of Carbapenems compared to Europe, recoding below five percent (Laxminarayan & Chaudhury, 2016). Failure to address antimicrobial resistance to the Carbapenems is more likely to result in deaths and other health-related complications. Therefore, these startling statistics are a clarion call for adopting an ideal approach that will see the issue in question is appropriately mediated. In this case, the adoption of next-generation sequencing to address antimicrobial resistance is the most sought approach believed to yield positive results. This approach is verified supported by a plethora of studies and evidence-based models. Rodgers’ diffusion of innovation theory perfectly elaborates how adopting next-generation sequencing (NGS) can mitigate the antimicrobial resistance menace in India and society.
In its simplest form, diffusion of innovation refers to people’s process when adapting to a new idea, practice, or product (Kaminski, 2011). Rogers contended that few people contend with this process at its initial stages while most are skeptical (Kaminski, 2011). Further, this model concedes that most of the targeted audience must be well informed for an approach to be successful. Therefore, there needs to be a continuous discussion about innovation and its positive impacts on society in this case. For example, in this context, the adoption approach of next-generation sequencing can be initiated by one individual spreading the word. At the same time, more and more people join the conversation until innovation becomes more common amongst the population in India. Rogers categorized adopters of innovation into five distinct groups: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards, as exhibited in figure 1 below (Kaminski, 2011). In some instances, a sixth group can be added, known as non-adopters. As evidenced in the image, each group’s percentage is estimated, similar to the segmentations present in a normal bell curve. The start point is at early adopters, while the saturation point is late adopters. This theory aims to move people within the five mentioned categories to ensure all people are at par while implementing an innovation.
Figure 1
Diffusion of Innovation Adopter Categories
Diffusion theory is an ideal concept in affecting the rate and reach. Its use is pegged on taking additional steps in the initial stages of developing innovation to have more people informed about the change. More importantly, people must positively perceive the projected innovation for swift adaptation and implementation. The significance of diffusing an innovation is to reach extended communities and population segments where change is highly needed (Dearing & Cox, 2018). This assertion relates to the innovation in q...