Health technology diffusion rates - Statins, coronary stents, and MRI in England

Objective: To analyze the rates and influences on the adoption of three sel ected health technologies: statins, coronary stents, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A retrospective diffusion study using primary care prescribing dat a and questionnaire responses from acute hospital trusts in the West Midlan ds region (population 5.3 million or 10% of England). Results: The selected technologies had markedly different diffusion curves. Statins diffused rapidly soon after launch. Coronary stents were initially used 6 years after first availability, but within 2 years all responding h ospitals reported using them. MRI scanners were initially purchased 6 years after first availability with a subsequently slow rate of diffusion, and a re still absent from some hospitals. Influences on the adoption of each tec hnology were different. Commercial marketing was reported as a major influe nce on the diffusion of statins but not at all on MRIs. Cost impact was a m ajor negative influence on the diffusion of MRI scanners and statins, where as enthusiastic individuals were key to the diffusion of stents. Conclusions: influences on adoption and consequent diffusion rates are very different for different health technologies. It is not at all clear that s uch diffusion patterns relate well to an optimum timing rate. This has impo rtant implications for technology gatekeepers in health care.