Exploring the value of three-dimensional printing and virtualization in paediatric healthcare: A multi-case quality improvement study

Background Three-dimensional printing is being utilized in clinical medicine to support activities including surgical planning, education, and medical device fabrication. To better understand the impacts of this technology, a survey was implemented with radiologists, specialist physicians, and surge...

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Main Authors: John Jacob, Chelsea Stunden, Sima Zakani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2023-02-01
Series:Digital Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231159988
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author John Jacob
Chelsea Stunden
Sima Zakani
author_facet John Jacob
Chelsea Stunden
Sima Zakani
author_sort John Jacob
collection DOAJ
description Background Three-dimensional printing is being utilized in clinical medicine to support activities including surgical planning, education, and medical device fabrication. To better understand the impacts of this technology, a survey was implemented with radiologists, specialist physicians, and surgeons at a tertiary care hospital in Canada, examining multidimensional value and considerations for uptake. Objectives To examine how three-dimensional printing can be integrated into the paediatric context and highlight areas of impact and value to the healthcare system using Kirkpatrick's Model. Secondarily, to explore the perspective of clinicians utilizing three-dimensional models and how they make decisions about whether or not to use the technology in patient care. Methods A post-case survey. Descriptive statistics are provided for Likert-style questions, and a thematic analysis was conducted to identify common patterns in open-ended responses. Results In total, 37 respondents were surveyed across 19 clinical cases, providing their perspectives on model reaction, learning, behaviour, and results. We found surgeons and specialists to consider the models more beneficial than radiologists. Results further showed that the models were more helpful when used to assess the likelihood of success or failure of clinical management strategies, and for intraoperative orientation. We demonstrate that three-dimensional printed models could improve perioperative metrics, including a reduction in operating room time, but with a reciprocal effect on pre-procedural planning time. Clinicians who shared the models with patients and families thought it increased understanding of the disease and surgical procedure, and had no effect on their consultation time. Conclusions Three-dimensional printing and virtualization were used in preoperative planning and for communication among the clinical care team, trainees, patients, and families. Three-dimensional models provide multidimensional value to clinical teams, patients, and the health system. Further investigation is warranted to assess value in other clinical areas, across disciplines, and from a health economics and outcomes perspective.
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spelling doaj.art-39c67bf771864a9787660e88544c50d12023-02-27T13:33:17ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762023-02-01910.1177/20552076231159988Exploring the value of three-dimensional printing and virtualization in paediatric healthcare: A multi-case quality improvement studyJohn Jacob0Chelsea Stunden1Sima Zakani2 Bayes Business School, City, University of London, London, UK Digital Lab, , Vancouver, BC, Canada Digital Lab, , Vancouver, BC, CanadaBackground Three-dimensional printing is being utilized in clinical medicine to support activities including surgical planning, education, and medical device fabrication. To better understand the impacts of this technology, a survey was implemented with radiologists, specialist physicians, and surgeons at a tertiary care hospital in Canada, examining multidimensional value and considerations for uptake. Objectives To examine how three-dimensional printing can be integrated into the paediatric context and highlight areas of impact and value to the healthcare system using Kirkpatrick's Model. Secondarily, to explore the perspective of clinicians utilizing three-dimensional models and how they make decisions about whether or not to use the technology in patient care. Methods A post-case survey. Descriptive statistics are provided for Likert-style questions, and a thematic analysis was conducted to identify common patterns in open-ended responses. Results In total, 37 respondents were surveyed across 19 clinical cases, providing their perspectives on model reaction, learning, behaviour, and results. We found surgeons and specialists to consider the models more beneficial than radiologists. Results further showed that the models were more helpful when used to assess the likelihood of success or failure of clinical management strategies, and for intraoperative orientation. We demonstrate that three-dimensional printed models could improve perioperative metrics, including a reduction in operating room time, but with a reciprocal effect on pre-procedural planning time. Clinicians who shared the models with patients and families thought it increased understanding of the disease and surgical procedure, and had no effect on their consultation time. Conclusions Three-dimensional printing and virtualization were used in preoperative planning and for communication among the clinical care team, trainees, patients, and families. Three-dimensional models provide multidimensional value to clinical teams, patients, and the health system. Further investigation is warranted to assess value in other clinical areas, across disciplines, and from a health economics and outcomes perspective.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231159988
spellingShingle John Jacob
Chelsea Stunden
Sima Zakani
Exploring the value of three-dimensional printing and virtualization in paediatric healthcare: A multi-case quality improvement study
Digital Health
title Exploring the value of three-dimensional printing and virtualization in paediatric healthcare: A multi-case quality improvement study
title_full Exploring the value of three-dimensional printing and virtualization in paediatric healthcare: A multi-case quality improvement study
title_fullStr Exploring the value of three-dimensional printing and virtualization in paediatric healthcare: A multi-case quality improvement study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the value of three-dimensional printing and virtualization in paediatric healthcare: A multi-case quality improvement study
title_short Exploring the value of three-dimensional printing and virtualization in paediatric healthcare: A multi-case quality improvement study
title_sort exploring the value of three dimensional printing and virtualization in paediatric healthcare a multi case quality improvement study
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231159988
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