The Spatial Diffusion of an Innovative Health Care Plan.

The model presented here describes the diffusion of a prepaid group practice plan in terms of spatial dimensions of personal influence. In its present form, the model has utility in identifying inconsistencies from expected spatial diffusion patterns. As such, it provides information on the spatial variability of acceptance patterns suggesting research and policy directions. If future models reach acceptable levels of overall accuracy, the posited hypothesis relating diffusion of a particular innovation to spatial networks of personal influence may be accepted as an adequate explanation. Therefore, future research must reduce the operational errors to a level where the validity of the model itself may be tested. If such validity is established, it will equip health planners with an analytical tool that enables them to predict independently the extent, direction, and rate of acceptance of an innovative health care plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]