Success and Failure of Adoption and Violation of Rogers Diffusion of Innovation Theory While Establishing a Community-Based Diabetes Foot Health Education Program in the Chinese American Community

A critical component of wellness is adoption of behaviors that promote health. Community relations, culture and social norms can have a positive, negative or neutral impact on a population's perception of and response to wellness initiatives. Rogers Diffusion of Innovation theory identifies several dynamics that influence adoption of innovation that can also be applied to innovations in the delivery of health education. Tenants of Roger's Diffusion of Innovation Theory include concepts regarding the importance of social networks, opinion leaders, compatibility, infrastructure and relative advantage. Both successful and unsuccessful application of Roger's Principles of Diffusion of Innovation are described from past experiences in developing a diabetic foot health education program in a Chinese community and failure to develop a foot health education program in the homeless community. Practical recommendations for applying Rogers Diffusion of Innovation theory to diabetic foot health education were developed from experiences with success and failure in adhering to tenants of Rogers Diffusion of Innovation theory as it relates to diabetic foot health education. Principles regarding social networks, opinion leaders, compatibility, infrastructure and relative advantage were found to be critical for establishing community based education models of diabetic foot health education.