Importance: The use of 3D printing, when effectively used by occupational therapists, can support creation of therapeutic tools and products that can meet patient-specific needs in a more customized way. Objective: The co-design process with occupational therapists was used to produce therapeutic tools as part of an intervention when working with clients. Using processes refined as a result of this experience, pilot-created 3D printing educational material were developed to support scaling this approach for future implementation. Design: Mixed methods (qualitative co-design process and quantitative questionnaire data). Setting: Outpatient orthopedic clinics. Participants: Three occupational therapists who practice in an outpatient orthopedic setting. Intervention: Use of a co-design process and 3D printing to design and produce specific tools based on participants requested specifications Outcomes and Measures: Quantitative and qualitative data based on a questionnaire utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to evaluate perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), behavioral intention to use (BI), and attitude toward use (ATU). Results: Successful implementation of the co-design process, with preliminary evidence of feasibility and acceptability of 3D printing in outpatient occupational therapy hand clinic, as indicated by successful creation of therapeutic materials and positive indications of 3D printing acceptance in the questionnaire. Conclusions and Relevance: This study concluded the feasibility of utilizing co-design methods in busy outpatient clinics to produce solutions that can be used in practice. 3D printing has the potential to beneficially impact occupational therapists in various practice settings.
Simon Santoso (Tue,) studied this question.