A Framework for Introducing Global Health Innovations to the US

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Health Innovation Diffusion
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Global health innovations offer cost-effective and effective alternatives to standard US public health practices.
• Empirical investigation is needed to identify factors facilitating the transfer of global health innovations to the US.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a conceptual framework for the successful introduction of global health innovations into US communities.
• The framework is based on diffusion of innovations theory and case studies of adopted global health innovations.

Main Methods:

• Selected five global health innovations adopted in US communities based on expert review and literature search.
• Conducted archival research and 27 interviews with leaders and stakeholders involved in these innovations.

Main Results:

• Identified six critical factors for adoption: innovation attributes, linking agents, inter-organizational partnerships, scale-up strategies, implementation processes/outcomes, and policy/social context.
• Found that while generally aligning with diffusion of innovation literature, some sub-factors, like stigma, showed divergent importance.

Conclusions:

• Developed the Designing for Diffusion Framework for Global Health Innovations.
• This framework offers a comprehensive view of facilitators and hindrances for transferring global health innovations to the US, aiming to improve adoption and implementation.