A cross-sectional survey by means of questionnaires was conducted among the heads of all 121 cardiology wards in Dutch hospitals, of whom 77 (64 % ) responded.
Adopters had a significantly lower level of formalization and more nurses working on the ward. Adopters also had a significantly more positive attitude towards working with the intervention, perceived more positive social influences from their direct environment and had higher self-efficacy. Psychological determinants explained adoption to a greater extent than organizational determinants did.
It is very important to take psychological factors into account when studying the adoption of preventive innovations and developing diffusion strategies.
Programs for dissemination of preventive innovations in a hospital setting should primarily focus on psychological characteristics like social influence and self-efficacy.