State licensing of naturopathic medicine is currently in the middle of the early majority stage of diffusion. This research found that licensing is occurring in a contagious manner; therefore, spatial proximity is an important determinant in predicting new adopters. Using the proportion of licensed neighbors to al neighbors as a measure for spatial proximity and the S-shaped curve, the remaining early majority and the first half of the late majority states and provinces were predicted. Lobbyists and recruiters might use this information to allocate resources to early majority states first.
Albert, D. P.
, & Butar, F. B. (2002). Feasibility of using telephone, association, and licensure directories to examine the geographic distribution of naturopathic physicians in Oregon, Arizona, and Connecticut. Geography Online [Online serial], 3(2). Retrieved on August 2, 2003, from http://www.siue.edu/GEOGRAPHY/ONLINE/
2.
Albert, D. P.
, & Butar, F. B. (2004). Distribution, concentration, and health care implications of naturopathic physicians in the United States. Complementary Health Practice Review, 9(2), 103-117.
3.
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
(2003). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved August 2, 2003, from http://www.naturopathic.org/asked_questions.htm
4.
Alliance Legislative Workbook
. (2002). Naturopathic Services and Insurance coverage. Retrieved August 9, 2002, from http://www.allianceworkbook.com/isindex.htm
5.
Bailey, T. C.
(1994). A review of statistical spatial analysis in geographical information systems. In S. Fotheringham & P. Rogerson (Eds.), Spatial analysis and GIS (pp. 13-44). London: Taylor & Francis.
6.
Baker, S. R.
(1979). The diffusion of high technology medical innovation: The computer tomography scanner example. Social Science and Medicine, 13D, 155-162.
7.
Bastyr University.
(2002). Naturopathic medicine program: Definition and description of naturopathic medicine. Retrieved February 26, 2002, from http://www.bastyr.edu/academic/naturopath/default.asp
8.
Berry, F.
, & Berry, D. (1990). State lottery adoptions as policy innovations: An event history analysis. American Political Science Review, 84(2), 395-415.
9.
Berry, F.
, & Berry, D. (1992). Tax innovation in the states: Capitalizing on political opportunity. American Journal of Political Science, 36(3), 715-742.
10.
Bodane, C.
, & Brownson, K. (2002). The growing acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine. Health Care Manager, 20(3), 11-21.
11.
California Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
(2003). Natural medicine now. Retrieved June 22, 2003, from http://www.naturalmedicinenow.org/
12.
Ebdon, D.
(1985). Statistics in geography. Oxford, UK: Basil Blackwell.
13.
Gesler, W.
(1991). The cultural geography of health care. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.
14.
Gort, E. H.
, & Coburn, D. (1988). Naturopathy in Canada: Changing relationships to medicine, chiropractic and the state. Social Science and Medicine, 26(10), 1061-1072.
15.
Gould, P.
(1969). Spatial diffusion. Washington, DC: Association of American Geographers.
16.
Gould, P.
(1993). The slow plague: A geography of the AIDS pandemic. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.
17.
Guler, I.
, Guillyn, M., & Macpherson, J. (2002). Global competition, institutions, and the diffusion of organizational practices: The international spread of ISO 9000 quality certificates. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47(2), 207-232.
18.
Hough, H. J.
, Dower, C., & O’Neil, E. H. (2001). Profile of a profession: Naturopathic practice. San Francisco: University of California, Center for the Health Professions.
19.
Huff, D.
, Lutz, J., & Srivastava, R. (1988). A geographical analysis of the innovativeness of states. Economic Geography, 64, 137-146.
20.
McGrew, J.
, & Monroe, C. (1993). An introduction to statistical problem solving in geography. Dubuque, IA: William C. Brown.
21.
Mintrom, M.
(1997). Policy entrepreneurs and the diffusion of innovation. American Journal of Political Science, 41(3), 738-770.
22.
Morton, M.
, & Morton, M. (1996). Five steps to selecting the best alternative medicine: A guide to complementary and integrative health care. Novato, CA: New World Library.
23.
Newmark, A.
(2002). An integrated approach to policy transfer and diffusion. Review of Policy Research, 19(2), 151-178.
24.
Nienstedt, B. C.
(1998). The definitional dilemma of alternative medicine. In R. J. Gordon, B. C. Nienstedt, & W. M. Gesler (Eds.), Alternative therapies: Expanding options in health care. New York: Springer.
25.
Patterson, K. D.
, & Pyle, G. F. (1983). The diffusion of influenza in sub-Saharan Africa during the 1918-1919 pandemic. Social Science and Medicine, 17(17), 1299-1307.
26.
Ricketts, T. C.
, Savitz, L. A., Gesler, W. M., & Osborne, D. N. (1994). Geographic methods for health services research: A focus on the rural-urban continuum. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
27.
Unwin, D.
(1981). Introductory spatial analysis. London: Methuen.
28.
Williams, C. A.
(1998). The guide to alternative health care. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs-Smith.
29.
Zhou, X.
(1993). Occupational power, state capacities, and the diffusion of licensing in the American states: 1890 to 1950. American Sociological Review, 58, 536-552.
