3D Printing in Clinical Education and Practice

Research Objectives: 1) To explain the rationale for using 3D printing technology in OT education and clinical practice
2) To learn tips for getting started with a 3D printing project, name at least two 3D printers and web resources used, and understand the 3D printing process and common materials used in desktop 3D printing.

Design: This research used a case study design to reflect the impacts of 3D printing applications.

Setting: In an urban setting at a university in Texas,

Participants: Participants (n = 11) were current occupational therapy (OT) students recruited using convenience sampling. The participants were screened for eligibility based on inclusion criteria of English language fluency, being a current student in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, having access to a WiFi-capable device, and being 21 years of age or older.

Interventions: Occupational therapy students have created eleven different household adaptive devices by using 3D printing technology during their rehabilitation technology class. The students were tasked with finding a 3D print file for an adaptive device online from an open-domain database that is free to the public. After selecting an adaptive device file, the students observed 3D printing techniques using carbon and nylon filament on two 3D printers. The students printed their chosen adaptive device file themselves in the university’s OT maker lab and reported their test notes.

Main Outcome Measures: Various recommendations via a test note to improve the device's usability and comfort were reported through written reflections. A poster was developed to reflect their satisfaction with the technology used in the translation of acquired knowledge to practice and knowledge application to clinical scenarios.

Results: The significance of the knowledge application was found as a theme through the reflection in the test note of the study.

Conclusions: The learners may increase their knowledge of translating acquired information into practice through case studies.

Author(s) Disclosures: The author has no disclosures.