Design and implementation of a database for the systematic review and development of a Diffusion of Innovation measure

Introduction: In developing a new survey instrument battery to measure diffusion of innovation constructs for assessing readiness to adopt evidence-based care practices in the long term care setting, a way to systematically identify, review, and modify existing items from existing scales and instruments was needed. Instrument specifications included the ability to customize the instrument to specific new care practices, in a manner similar to self-efficacy measures. A database was designed and developed to meet these needs.

Methods: A customized relational database (ACCESSTM) was designed to allow importing of bibliographic citation information from pubmed/EndnotesTM databases allowing the investigator to input information from the literature, both automatically and manually. The relational database allows the investigator to review and comment upon the literature, and filter the database to both efficiently document the pool of literature upon which the new items are based, and focus on the most relevant information and articles. Sample scale items, or investigator-developed items can be input into the database, then mapped to a relevant domain and construct. The investigator can then modify these items in a variety of manners, allowing each scale to meet the user's survey needs. The database will then output a finished survey product based on specified domains, constructs, and target audience.

Results: The database has been used to import 506 references, and 60instruments, resulting in an item pool of 1,326 items which resulted in 403 refinements from which a final instrument of 50 items has been developed.

Conclusions: This database provides the investigator with a systematic, yet flexible way to develop multiple survey tools in a controlled but dynamic environment, allowing for a priori specification in audience, construct and domain., This database is flexible enough to be used in any field or setting, both within nursing and in the broader medical and business community, to develop a survey instrument to measure diffusion of innovation.