Health Technology Adoption and Diffusion

Question 1

What is the difference between technology adoption and diffusion?

Answer 1

Adoption = one’s decision to use a technology on an INDIVIDUAL level, MICRO perspective on change

Diffusion= collective adoption process of GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS who use a tech over time, MACRO perspective

Question 2

What challenges occur with tech adoption and abandonment?

Answer 2

adoption –> they could use one but DO NOT OWN ONE

abandonment –> if they own them they either DO NOT USE THEM or do not use them to THE BEST ADVANTAGE, or due to PSYCHOSOCIAL factors (user’s feelings about themselves/the tech/their abilities)

Question 3

What could happen if you don’t use your assisted device?

Answer 3

1. loss of functional abilities
2. increase in attendant and care costs
3. ineffective use of funds from provider organizations

Question 4

What factors affect technology adoption and abandonment?

Answer 4

1. Usefulness –> whether the technology will help the end user to attain gains in performance
2. Social influence –> whether significant others believe the individual should use the new tech
3. Facilitating conditions –> whether organizational and technical infrastructure exist to support use of the tech

Question 5

Describe the 3 subscales of the PIADS questionnaire and the dimensions they represent.

Answer 5

1. Competence
   feelings about their abilities
2. adaptability
   feelings about opportunities to exploit the functionality of a device in situations that are important to them
3. self-esteem
   feelings about themselves

Question 6

What assumptions are shared by theories of technology adoption?

Answer 6

1. Adoption is a COMPLEX process
2. most technology adoption can be accurately predicted from an appropriate measure of the individuals INTENTION TO USE OR ADOPT technology

Question 7

What is the difference between technology invention and innovation (for tech diffusion)?

Answer 7

Invention = to discover something new

Innovate = to use or improve upon a new idea or method , manipulate existing interventions and turn them into a product/process that is useful

Question 8

What are the categories of adopters in Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovations?

Answer 8

all based on how quickly a person adopted to the innovation

1. Innovators –> first to learn about and adopt an innovation , risk taking, introduce to larger pop b/c they share their experiences
2. Early adopters –> opinion leaders, play key role in crossing the “chasm” (when the adoption of an innovation bridges the gap b/w trend setters and the majority)
3. Early Majority–> take time, only adopt once they believe so
4. Late Majority –> resistance to change, responsive to peer pressure, want it to be tested before trying
5. Laggards –> highly resistant to change, minimal exposure to media, wait until it is completely mainstream before they adopt it (sometimes don’t even!)

Question 9

What psychological factors predict adoption category?