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 a
national 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 enrollment
rate. Method: Adopting a selected change theory can be beneficial in making the decision and successfully
implementing the intended change. Rogers’s diffusion of innovations theory was adopted by a public school
administration to join the accreditation. This theory provides an explanation on how and at what rate new
innovations take place and spread out over time in any system.The school health committee went through
the five stages proposed by the theory and successfully implemented the accreditation.
Conclusion: Adopting Rogers’s diffusion of innovations theory can be beneficial iN implementing the
school health-promoting programs.
Implication for School Health: School administrators, school health nurses and school health teachers
are strongly advised to adopt this theory while they are considering joining the school health-promoting
programs.