Using Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation Theory to Implement the Healthy Schools National Accreditation

Abstract

Background: In Jordan, The Healthy School National Accreditation has been introduced in 2008 as anational health-promoting school program where schools are invited to voluntarily join the accreditation.Unfortunately, financial challenges and lack of resources among many other factors led to very low enrollmentrate. Method: Adopting a selected change theory can be beneficial in making the decision and successfullyimplementing the intended change. Rogers’s diffusion of innovations theory was adopted by a public schooladministration to join the accreditation. This theory provides an explanation on how and at what rate newinnovations take place and spread out over time in any system.The school health committee went throughthe five stages proposed by the theory and successfully implemented the accreditation.Conclusion: Adopting Rogers’s diffusion of innovations theory can be beneficial iN implementing theschool health-promoting programs.Implication for School Health: School administrators, school health nurses and school health teachersare strongly advised to adopt this theory while they are considering joining the school health-promotingprograms.