Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2025
11:45
Creation of a High-Fidelity, Low-Cost, Intraosseous Line Placement Task Trainer via 3D Printing
Published on: August 17, 2022
2.0K
Autoethnography study: how I learned to do 3D printing as a rehabilitation practitioner
Mona Alkhudair1,2,3,4, W Ben Mortenson1,2,3,5
1Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology
|May 15, 2024
Summary
This study documents the author's journey learning 3D printing for rehabilitation, detailing challenges and milestones. It offers a roadmap for practitioners to adopt additive manufacturing (3D printing) in their work.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Technology
- Additive Manufacturing
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is gaining traction in healthcare for creating orthoses, prostheses, and assistive technologies (AT).
- Limited empirical research exists on rehabilitation professionals' adoption of 3D printing, despite anecdotal evidence of practitioner reservations.
- Understanding the learning process is crucial for broader integration of 3D printing in rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the personal experience of learning 3D printing for application in the rehabilitation field.
- To identify key themes, challenges, and developmental milestones encountered during the 3D printing learning process.
- To provide practical insights and a potential roadmap for other rehabilitation professionals seeking to adopt 3D printing.
Main Methods:
- An autoethnographic approach was employed, involving detailed journal entries and photographic documentation of artifacts created during the learning process.
- Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected qualitative data.
- The study focused on the researcher's subjective experience and reflections throughout the 3D printing learning journey.
Main Results:
- Three overarching themes emerged: motivation to learn, challenges faced with solutions, and achievement of developmental milestones.
- The learning journey provided practical insights and solutions, serving as a guide for novice 3D printing users in rehabilitation.
- The experience highlighted both opportunities and obstacles in integrating 3D printing within the rehabilitation context.
Conclusions:
- The study offers a personal roadmap for learning 3D printing, potentially encouraging wider adoption in rehabilitation.
- Findings can inform the development of targeted 3D printing training programs for students and professionals in the rehabilitation sector.
- This autoethnographic account aims to inspire further exploration and empirical research into 3D printing in healthcare.
