First experiences of a hospital-based 3D printing facility – an analytical observational study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To identify the clinical impact and potential benefits of in-house 3D-printed objects through a questionnaire, focusing on three principal areas: patient education; interdisciplinary cooperation; preoperative planning and perioperative execution. Materials and methods Questionnaires were sent from January 2021 to August 2022. Participants were directed to rate on a scale from 1 to 10. Results The response rate was 43%. The results of the rated questions are averages. 84% reported using 3D-printed objects in informing the patient about their condition/procedure. Clinician-reported improvement in patient understanding of their procedure/disease was 8.1. The importance of in-house placement was rated 9.2. 96% reported using the 3D model to confer with colleagues. Delay in treatment due to 3D printing lead-time was 1.8. The degree with which preoperative planning was altered was 6.9. The improvement in clinician perceived preoperative confidence was 8.3. The degree with which the scope of the procedure was affected, in regard to invasiveness, was 5.6, wherein a score of 5 is taken to mean unchanged. Reduction in surgical duration was rated 5.7. Conclusion Clinicians report the utilization of 3D printing in surgical specialties improves procedures pre- and intraoperatively, has a potential for increasing patient engagement and insight, and in-house location of a 3D printing center results in improved interdisciplinary cooperation and allows broader access with only minimal delay in treatment due to lead-time.