Diffusion of technology innovation.

Within the context of nursing informatics as a field that addresses the use of information technology by nurses as they care for patients, carry out administrative tasks in health facilities, and educate others in the discipline, this article presents the theoretic perspectives of the adoption and implementation of such technologies. Research in the area of diffusion of innovations is reviewed from the perspective of classical diffusion theory and organizational theory. The state of the art and methodological issues of research in this area are addressed. Areas for future study are proposed.