Autoethnography study: how I learned to do 3D printing as a rehabilitation practitioner

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is increasingly utilized in healthcare. Some rehabilitation professionals employ 3D printing for orthoses, prostheses, and assistive technologies (AT). However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many practitioners have reservations about adopting 3D printing into their practices, and empirical research in this area is limited. The aim of the study was to document my experience while learning 3D printing. In this autoethnographic study, journal entries and photos of the artifacts were collected during the process of learning 3D printing. These data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: Being motivated to learn 3D printing, Experiencing challenges and implementing possible solutions, and Achieving developmental milestones in learning 3D printing. These milestones offered practical insights and solutions for new learners by providing a roadmap for navigating the journey of learning 3D printing. This personal experience offered opportunities and posed challenges in the context of learning to use 3D printing in the rehabilitation field. It is hoped that this study will inspire others to explore 3D printing and potentially contribute to the development of 3D printing training programs for students and rehabilitation professionals.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• The study contributes to understanding of 3D printers use for individuals with disabilities, whether in occupational therapy or non-occupational therapy contexts.

• By highlighting the issues and challenges documented in this study, individuals with no prior exposure to 3D printing can better manage their expectations when embarking on their own 3D printing journey.

• This experience can serve as an inspiration for occupational therapy students and other students in rehabilitation programs to share their own stories about their encounters with 3D printing, potentially sparking new approaches to practice.

• The knowledge and experience gained through 3D printing might help to develop a 3D printing training workshop.

Keywords:

• 3D printing
• autoethnography
• assistive technology
• occupational therapy
• rehabilitation
• people with disabilities

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Tom for his help during my first trial. I really appreciate his efforts during the setup and preparation phase and for answering all my questions. I would also like to express my gratitude to my colleague Ahmad for guiding me via DMs on Twitter and providing me with valuable insights based on his experience as an OT and 3D printer user. Additionally, I extend special thanks to my sponsor, KSAU-HS for funding the purchase of the 3D printer used in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Additive manufacturing (3.1.2): is the process of joining materials to make parts from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing and formative manufacturing methodologies as defined by the International Organization for Standardization ISO/ASTM 52900 standard created in 2015 and revised in 2021 [3]. Meanwhile, 3D printing (3.3.1) is defined as the fabrication of objects through the deposition of a material using a print head, a nozzle, or another printer technology. The term ‘3D printing’ is often used interchangeably with additive manufacturing in non-technical contexts, particularly for personal use [3]. For this reason, the term ‘3D printing’ was chosen in this autoethnography because I used the 3D printer for non-industrial purposes.

2 Makers Making Change: is an online platform providing a disruptively low-cost alternative to commercially available AT. With a wide range of devices available in the assistive devices’ library, there are many options for people to request and work with a volunteer maker who can build them [23].

Additional information

Funding

King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.