Helping Patients Understand Their Dizziness: Assessment of a Three-Dimensional Printed Vestibular Model

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Medical Education
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of dizziness, often requiring patient education for management.
• Traditional educational methods may not fully address patient understanding and anxiety associated with BPPV.
• Novel teaching tools are needed to improve patient comprehension and reduce disability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a 3D printed vestibular model in improving patient understanding of BPPV.
• To evaluate the impact of this educational approach on dizziness-related disabilities and anxiety.
• To compare a 3D model teaching group with a standard verbal education control group.

Main Methods:

• A single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted in an Otolaryngology clinic.
• Patients with BPPV were randomized into a 3D model group (experimental) or a verbal education group (control).
• Pre- and post-session surveys measured understanding, comfort, anxiety, and recommendation likelihood.

Main Results:

• The 3D model group showed significantly increased understanding of BPPV etiology (p=0.0289).
• A greater decrease in symptom-related anxiety was observed in the 3D model group (p=0.0453).
• While not statistically significant, trends favored the 3D model group for comfort and recommendation likelihood.

Conclusions:

• A 3D printed vestibular model serves as a promising tool for patient education in BPPV management.
• This innovative approach can enhance patient understanding and potentially reduce anxiety associated with vertigo symptoms.
• Further research can explore broader applications of 3D models in otolaryngology patient education.