Empowering Occupational Therapists: Integrating 3D Printing into Rehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Introduction: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) encounter significant challenges in performing activities of daily living (ADLs). Adaptive equipment (AE) is widely recognized as essential for enhancing ADL participation, which in turn improves quality of life, autonomy, and long-term functional outcomes (Sturm et al., 2021). However, access to AE is hindered by barriers such as lack of personalization, lesion level, financial limitations, and limited rehabilitation access (Hertig-Godeschalk et al., 2017). 3D printing to create custom AE can increase patient satisfaction, adherence, and participation (Schwartz et al., 2019). Occupational therapists (OTs) working in inpatient rehabilitation focus on maximizing patient independence before discharge, with AE playing a critical role in achieving this. Enhancing OTs' ability to provide customized, cost-effective AE through 3D printing may help overcome access barriers. Objective: To evaluate a tailored 3D printing training program for OTs in an inpatient spinal cord rehabilitation setting, using a blended learning approach that includes online and hands-on education. Methods: A one-group posttest design was used to assess the impact of the training on therapists’ perceptions and use of 3D printing. Participation was measured by tracking printer usage, counting successful prints, and collecting responses to anonymous surveys. Surveys evaluated perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEU), and behavioral intention (BI) to use the 3D printer. Open-ended questions gathered insights into barriers and facilitators to implementation. Survey items were based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989), while qualitative responses were analyzed using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) (Venkatesh et al., 2003). Results: All eligible OTs (n=8) participated. Survey results showed median scores of 4 for PU, 5 for PEU, and 4.5 for BI. Following training, all participants used the 3D printer in clinical care, totaling 13 uses with 11 successful prints. Acknowledgments: Thomas Jefferson University, Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Alison Bell and Content experts (Talya Stein, Dana Schwimmer and Corey Moses).