Diffusion Of Arthroscopy In China Influencing Factors & Countermeasures Exploration

Diffusion of innovation is important, as it’s the process to apply the new ideas into practice, make benefits and further more speed productivity. E.M.Rogers defines Diffusion as the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system. Technological innovation diffusion is consisted of innovation suppliers, demanders and media. It’s a process the innovations diffusion from the suppliers to demanders through media. By the pressure growth, it appears a S-shape model.There are few researches on medical technologies diffusion, and it’s the same status in arthroscopic technology diffusion. Arthroscopy is the medical technology applied in human joint soft tissue tear repair or reconstruction. It’s meaningful to diffuse arthroscopic technologies, as it helps people to overcome joint pain. It’s minimal invasive surgery, hence patients feel less pain and can discharge within 3 days; hospitals can get higher beds turnover and higher revenue. But in china arthroscopic surgeons are mainly in some large cities:Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and capital cities. Patients are not accessible to arthroscopic resources, and if they all go to the big cities for the surgeries, they have to wait more than 2 or 3 months. If more surgeons can do arthroscopies, this will help more patients.This paper introduces arthroscopy’s features, advantages and benefits, and also introduces the arthroscopic technology diffusion ways in U.S.A and Japan, as the arthroscopic technologies in these two countries developed earlier and develop well. China can make a reference from these two countries.This paper investigated influencing factors by questionnaire among 629 surgeons firstly, and found that media diffusion, especially arthroscopic manufactures driven diffusion, is more effective.This paper also made good use of expert interview. The experts are earlier adopters of arthroscopy and their experiences are good teaching materials. They advise that arthroscopic manufacturers should have good cooperation with professional arthroscopic masters and arthroscopic associations and pay more attention on diagnosis and clinical educations.Then with the results and directions of innovation diffusion, the author did cases control study in East China area and South China area. Surgeries cases increased greatly in both areas compared 2013 with 2012. This result also proves arthroscopic manufacturers’ diffusion effects.This paper puts forward a series of proposals in macroscopic and microscopic views at the end of the paper to speed arthroscopic technologies diffusion and enhance arthroscopic technological innovation capabilities to benefit more patients.