Improving Clinical Proficiency Using a 3-Dimensionally Printed and Patient-Specific Thoracic Spine Model as a Haptic Task Trainer

Abstract

By using patient-specific, 3-dimensionally printed, thoracic spine models, we demonstrated a significant improvement in clinical proficiency as compared with traditional teaching models.

Current State of Three-Dimensional Printing for Simulation Training of Interventional Radiology Trainees

“…The majority of excluded articles were original research articles that were not related to 3D printing. Of the 131 articles that discussed 3D printing, 44 of 141 (31.2%) of those articles featured trainee involvement, and 23 of the 44 (52.7%) of these articles featured a 3D printing procedure-oriented simulation. Among the remaining 23 articles, four articles featured our trainee population of interest (i.e.…”

Learners and Luddites in the Twenty-first Century

“…It is highly effective as a teaching modality and allows for low-stakes training of invasive procedures. [123][124][125][126] Task training may be done with either high-or low-fidelity models. 126,127 Low-fidelity models are useful for novices, 128,129 but higher-fidelity models are often required to engage experienced learners and to assess communication skills and procedural team dynamics.…”

“…[123][124][125][126] Task training may be done with either high-or low-fidelity models. 126,127 Low-fidelity models are useful for novices, 128,129 but higher-fidelity models are often required to engage experienced learners and to assess communication skills and procedural team dynamics. 130 Hybrid approaches, incorporating both live actors and procedural trainers, have also been successful in teaching communication and procedures simultaneously.…”

“…121,122 Limitations of task trainers can include availability of adequate resources to train learners simultaneously, expense, and availability of teaching staff. Incorporation of small group teaching, use of low-fidelity models where appropriate, inexpensive threedimensional printing of models, 126,132 and peer teaching 133 can ameliorate some of these issues. Virtual reality and augmented reality, where additional visual cues are overlaid on the physical environment to enhance learning, are both popular and proving increasingly effective as a technique for teaching procedural skills.…”

Medical education research methodology: accuracy and design

“…We read with great interest the study by Bortman et al on the use of a patient-specific 3-D printed thoracic spine model to enhance clinical proficiency in thoracic epidural placement by novice residents 1. We applaud the authors for creating a novel, affordable model that mirrors true anatomic challenges encountered in daily practice, and showcasing the positive effect of a combination of didactic and hands-on training with integrated haptic feedback.…”