Table 1.

Factors of Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovation

Factor	Description	Questions	Quotes
Awareness	Whether or not users are aware of the innovation	What do you know about the SSC and the evidence supporting its use?	“[AHS] told us [nurses] that it helps with patient safety.”
Relative advantage	The degree to which an innovation is perceived as being an improvement on the idea that preceded it	Was there anything similar to the SSC before its implementation? How is the SSC different?	“We were looking for history, consent, whether a side needed to be marked; so [the SSC] just took it a little bit further.”
Compatibility	The degree to which an innovation is consistent with existing values	What are your thoughts on the value of the SSC?	“Even if we improve things a small amount it’s worth it.”
Complexity	How difficult an innovation is to understand and use	How easy or difficult is it to incorporate the SSC into your perioperative routine?	“Sometimes it feels like we nurses spend a lot of time lassoing [physicians] to get them to participate.”
Trialability	How easily an innovation may be experimented with	How often do you use the SSC? What facilitates and prevents you from using it? How easily does the SSC fit into your previous perioperative practice?	“[Surgeons were] the biggest challenge in the process.”
Observability	The degree to which the results of an innovation are perceptible to others	Have you noticed any advantages or disadvantages of the SSC? What is the feedback from your OR team?	“I know it’s supposed to save lives and reduce morbidity; I’m not sure it does that. I think that it improves the efficiency of my OR.”

AHS = Alberta Health Services; OR = operating room; SSC = surgical safety checklist.