Harnessing 3D Scanning and Printing Technology to Improve Students' Proficiency in Assessing Foot Posture

Area of Science:

• Podiatry Education
• Biomechanical Assessment
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• The Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) is crucial for podiatry education but challenging to teach.
• 3D foot models offer a risk-free practice environment to improve student confidence and reduce anxiety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of 3D foot models on podiatry students' confidence and anxiety during FPI-6 assessment.
• To compare student FPI-6 scores with expert consensus scores.

Main Methods:

• Fifty podiatry students assessed 3D printed foot models using the FPI-6.
• Student confidence and anxiety were measured pre- and post-simulation using validated questionnaires.
• Student scores were compared to expert panel consensus using Bland-Altman analysis.

Main Results:

• Student confidence significantly improved across all measured items (p ≤ 0.015) with medium to large effect sizes.
• 22 out of 27 anxiety and confidence measures on the CSAI-2 showed significant improvement (p ≤ 0.038).
• Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement between student and expert scores (mean difference 0.389, 95% LoA -3.3 to 4.1).

Conclusions:

• 3D foot models effectively enhance podiatry students' confidence and reduce anxiety in FPI-6 assessment.
• The study validates the utility of 3D models for practicing foot posture assessment.
• Pre-scored 3D models are valuable for targeted practice, emphasizing the need for feedback to ensure accuracy.