Abstract
This paper looks into the applicability of diffusion of innovation (DoI) theory and the implementation of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) approach, focusing mainly on the resource extraction sector in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The paper begins with a review of DoI theory and discusses how HIA adoption in a LMIC context might be understood from the perspective of DoI theory. It then asks whether knowledge translation theories and approaches might be relevant to DoI, and if so, how. Based on the findings of the literature review and practical applications of DoI theory in HIA implementation, this paper is concluded by arguing that DoI is useful as an overarching theoretical framework to plan and implement adoption strategies and activities, to identify potential challenges.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrams, S. M., Mahoney, M. C., Hyland, A., Cummings, K. M., Davis, W., & Song, L. (2006). Early evidence on the effectiveness of clean indoor air legislation in New York State. American Journal of Public Health, 96(2), 296.
Best, A., Greenhalgh, T., Lewis, S., Saul, J. E., Carroll, S., & Bitz, J. (2012). Large-system transformation in health care: A realist review. The Milbank Quarterly, 90(3), 421–456.
Birley, M. (2005, October). Health impact assessment in multinationals: A case study of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 25(7–8), 702–713. ISSN 0195-9255, Retrieved from doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2005.07.001.
Blocker, J. S, Jr. (2006). Did prohibition really work? Alcohol prohibition as a public health innovation. American Journal of Public Health, 96, 233–243.
Campbell, S. (ed.) (2008). The knowledge translation toolkit. Nairobi: International Development Research Centre. Work in Progress. November 2008. Retrieved from www.research-matters.net.
Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). (2012). Guide to knowledge translation planning at CIHR: Integrated and End-of-Grant Approaches. Ottawa (Canada): Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). ISBN 978-1-100-20517-5. Retrieved from http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/documents/kt_lm_ktplan-en.pdf.
Caussy, D., Kumar, P., & Than Sein, U. (2003). Health impact assessment needs in south-east Asian countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 81(6), 439–443.
Chambers, K., Corbett, J., Keller, P., & Wood, C. (2004). Indigenous knowledge, mapping, and GIS: A diffusion of innovation perspective. Cartographica, 39(3), 19–31.
Choi, B. C. K., Pang, T., Lin, V., Puska, P., Sherman, G., Goddard, M., et al. (2005). Can scientists and policy makers work together? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 59, 632–637.
Dannenberg, A. L., Bhatia, R., Cole, B. L., et al. (2006). Growing the field of health impact assessment in the United States: An agenda for research and practice. American Journal of Public Health, 96, 262–270.
Des Jarlais, D., Sloboda, Z., Friedman, S., Tempalski, B., McKnight, C., & Braine, N. (2006). Comparing the diffusion of D.A.R.E. and syringe exchange programs. American journal of Public Health.
Dietz, T., & Stern, P. C. (2002). New tools for environmental protection: Education, information, and voluntary measures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
Estabrooks, C. A., Thompson, D. S., Lovely, J. J. E., & Hofmeyer, A. (2006). A guide to knowledge translation theory. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 26(1), 25–36.
Fauman, M. A. (2006, April). Diffusion of medical innovation. Psychiatric times [serial online]. 23(4), 26–27. Retrieved from: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson), Ipswich, MA. Accessed 1 April 2014.
Garcıa-Goni, M., Maroto, A., & Rubalcaba, L. (2007). Innovation and motivation in public health professionals. Health Policy, 84(2007), 344–358.
Garland, C. F., Garland, F. C., Gorham, E. D., et al. (2006). The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention. American Journal of Public Health, 96, 252–261.
Government of Mongolia (GOM). (2006). The minerals law of Mongolia: Government’s Decree # 793.
Green, L. W. (2008). Making research relevant: If it is an evidence-based practice, where’s the practice-based evidence? Family Practice, 25, i20–i24.
Greenberg, M. R. (2006). The diffusion of public health innovations. American Journal of Public Health, 96(2), 209–210. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.078360.
Greenhalgh, T., Robert, G., Macfarlane, F., et al. (2004). Diffusion of innovations in service organizations: Systematic review and recommendations. Milbank Quarterly, 82, 581–629.
Hahma, M.-I., Park, E.-C., Choi, K. S., Lee, H.-Y., Park, J.-H., & Park, S. (2011). Inequalities in adoption of cancer screening from a diffusion of innovation perspective: Identification of late adopters. Cancer Epidemiology, 35(2011), 90–96.
Hamilton, A. (2010). Diffusion of innovation: Web 2.0. Occupational Therapy Now, 12(1), 18–21. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/docview/229532162?accountid=13800.
Janes, C. R., Corbett, K. K., Davison, C., Laing, L., Snyder (2011, January). Health Impact Assessment: Background, methods, and tools for the Mongolian mining sector. Canadian Institutes for Health Research Catalyst Grant Proposal.
Katz, E., & Lazarsfeld, P. (1955). Personal influence. New York: The Free Press.
Lock, K., & McKee, M. (2005). Health impact assessment: assessing opportunities and barriers to intersectoral health improvement in an expanded European Union. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 59(5), 356–360.
Mindell, J. S., Boltongb, A., & Forde, I. (2008). A review of health impact assessment frameworks. Public Health, 122, 1177–1187.
Mindell, J., Ison, E., & Joffe, M. (2003). A glossary for health impact assessment. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 57, 647–651.
Mitchell, S. K., Kelly, K. J., Potgieter, F. E., & Moon, M. W. (2009). Assessing social preparedness for antiretroviral therapy in a generalized AIDS epidemic: A diffusion of innovations approach. AIDS Behavior, 13(1), 76–84. doi:10.1007/s10461-007-9293-9.
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009, 8 August). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement, BMJ: British Medical Journal, 339(7716), 332–336, article stable http://www.jstor.org.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/stable/25672329.
National Research Council (US) Committee on Health Impact Assessment. (2011). Improving health in the United States: The Role of Health Impact Assessment. National Academies Press (US).
Nilunger, M. L. (2009). Health impact assessment as a policy innovation.
Nisbet, M. C., & Kotcher, J. E. (2009, March) A two-step flow of influence? Opinion-leader campaigns on climate change. Science Communication, 30, 328–354. First published on 8 January 2009. doi:10.1177/1075547008328797.
Pawson, R., Greenhalgh, T., Harvey, G., et al. (2005). Realist review—a new method of systematic review designed for complex policy interventions. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 10(Suppl 1), 21–34. Retrieved from http://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/66496/978-951-44-7775-1.pdf?sequence=1.
Roberts, M. J., Hsiao, W., Berman, P., & Reich, M. R. (2004). Getting health reform right: A guide to improving performance and equity. USA: Oxford University Press, Retrived 1 April 2014, from http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=900zfL08_CYC&oi=fnd&pg=PT11&dq=Getting+health+reform+right:+A+guide+to+improving+performance+and+equity&ots=AhEkY-I0Wp&sig=VtdX-ISwB2W6h8vy2xQ7nIhwR4w#v=onepage&q=Getting%20health%20reform%20right%3A%20A%20guide%20to%20improving%20performance%20and%20equity&f=false.
Rogers, E. (1995). Diffusion of innovation (4th ed.). New York: Free Press.
Rogers, E. (2002). Diffusion of preventive innovations. Addictive Behaviors, 27, 989–993.
Rogers, E. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York: Free Press.
Sharma, M., & Kanekar, A. (2014). Diffusion of innovations theory for alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education [serial online]. April 2008: 3, 7. Available from: Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed 1 April 2014.
Singhal, A. (2013). Positive Deviance and Social Change. Available from https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/plexusinstitute.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/files/singhal_arvind_positive_devi.pdf.
Stacks, D. W., & Salwen, M. B. (2009). An integrated approach to communication theory and research. New York: Routledge.
Straus, S. E., Tetroe, J. M., & Graham, I. D. (2011). Knowledge translation is the use of knowledge in health care decision making. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 64(1), 6–10.
Taylor, L., & Quigley, R. (2002). Health impact assessment: A review of reviews. London: Health Development Agency.
Thomas, J. (1985, December). Force field analysis: A new way to evaluate your strategy. Long Range Planning, 18(6), 54–59, ISSN 0024-6301, Retrieved from doi:10.1016/0024-6301(85)90064-0.
Turnbull, P. W., & Meenaghan, A. (1980). Diffusion of innovation and opinion leadership. European Journal of Marketing, 14(1), 3–33.
Valente, T. W., & Fosados, R. (2006). Diffusion of innovations and network segmentation: The part played by people in promoting health. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 33(7 Suppl.), 23–31.
Wejnert, B. (2002). Integrating models of diffusion of innovations: A conceptual framework. Annual Review of Sociology, 28, 297–326.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Byambaa, T., Janes, C., Takaro, T. et al. Putting Health Impact Assessment into practice through the lenses of diffusion of innovations theory: a review. Environ Dev Sustain 17, 23–40 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-014-9538-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-014-9538-5