Abstract
Undoubtedly the most influential investigation of the diffusion of a biomedical innovation was a study conducted by Coleman and others (1966) of the diffusion of an antibiotic drug among a community of physicians. The innovation spread from its introduction in an Illinois community to widespread adoption in about two years. At first only a few doctors tried the new antibiotic, then the rate of adoption took a spurt, and finally the rate of increase slowed to a point where only a few doctors had not adopted the antibiotic. The Coleman study identified the characteristics of the adopters of the innovation: generally the first doctors to adopt the new drug were typified by a higher income, a larger practice, and a more cosmopolitan scope in their travel and reading.
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Rogers, E.M. (1981). Diffusion of Innovations: An Overview. In: Anderson, J.G., Jay, S.J. (eds) Use and Impact of Computers in Clinical Medicine. Computers and Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8674-2_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8674-2_9
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