This document was printed from the website of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), which you can access at http://www.cebc4cw.org/
This document was printed from the website of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), which you can access at http://www.cebc4cw.org/
The following terms are commonly found within the literature on implementation. We have provided definitions that will assist you in better understanding the terms and differentiating between them.
Adoption is the decision to make full use of an innovation as the best course of action available (Rogers, 1995).
Diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system (Rogers, 1995).
Dissemination is the targeted distribution of information and intervention materials to a specific public health or clinical practice audience. The intent is to spread knowledge and the associated evidence-based interventions (DHHS, 2005).
Implementation is the use of strategies to introduce or change evidence-based health interventions within specific settings (DHHS, 2005).
References:
Rogers, E.M. (1995). Diffusion of innovations, (4th ed.). New York: The Free Press.
US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). (2005). Dissemination and implementation research in health (R01). (Program Announcement (PA) Number: PAR-06-039). Retrieved July 8, 2008 from the National Institutes of Health website: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-039.html.