Socio Ecological Model (SEM) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Integrated Framework: A Proposal for Integration to Improve Intervention in the Digital Age of Medicine

Abstract

Health promotion intervention theory must adapt as evidence grows to support the complexities of social and behavioral health fields. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health continues to grow, requiring a re-evaluation of traditional models’ applicability to these approaches. The authors propose adapting and integrating the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) models for application with digital health to deliver interventions. We also describe the application of the SEM-DOI integration in conjunction with a demonstration project, a digital intervention to improve Metabolic Syndromes (MetS) health outcomes. Future health interventions may consider the proposed SEM-DOI model to account for individual and community-level factors during implementation and use as a guide for meaningful evaluation. Adaptations of theoretical models to current-state interventions and integration of multiple, established models are needed to sustain prevention efforts and efficacy over time.

Keywords

• Digital Medicine
• Diffusion of Innovation Model
• Socio Ecological Model