Auenbrugger's Solution and Columbus’ Egg Effect in Health Technology Adoption

Abstract

This paper reports the case of a widely diffused medical practice, i.e., diagnostic thoracic percussion that generated cold and sceptical early reactions and, consequently, a short-run low acceptance. Neither analyses of technology-specific diffusion barriers nor traditional explanations of a paradigm shift between the failure and, finally, the acceptance of Auenbrugger’s innovation can explain the case.Under the umbrella of the Columbus Egg effect, i.e., if perceived as too simple for the complexity of the problem, an effective solution is not accepted, and early low acceptance of medical percussion finds its reasonable explanation. Diffusion of innovation needs a balance between its complexity and the perceived complexity of the related problem.The case and the theoretical framework of Columbus’ egg offer powerful suggestions for overcoming the rejection of effective and sustainable Columbus’ eggs and disruptive health technologies. On a new theoretical framework for knowledge-based innovation complexity, the paper goes beyond the usual technology-specific innovation diffusion barriers and related innovation management.

Keywords: Health Technology, Innovation adoption, problem-solution complexity, Case Study, cost-effective health technology, health technology policy