Effectiveness of 3D printed custom assistive devices in the school environment

Custom assistive devices have been shown to positively impact functioning and quality of life while having high adaptability capabilities and a low cost of production. These benefits make them a useful tool to meet the needs of disabled students. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of custom assistive devices on the functioning and quality-of-life of physically disabled students. The study is an exploratory clinical trial spanning 4 months conducted in two special educational needs and disability schools in Valencia, Spain. The sample consists of 11 convenience sampled students 4 to 16 years old. Custom assistive devices were designed and implemented via an iterative design process. The data were analyzed via paired T tests to compare the data related to quality-of-life and, descriptively, to show the mean change in the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale, which was subsequently analyzed via linear regression. The quality-of-life subscales social inclusion (p 0.013), general wellbeing (p 0.042) and rights (p 0.021) were the most impacted. The psychosocial impact of the assistive device scale subscales competence and adaptability were positively impacted. In conclusion, custom assistive devices are promising. Additional analytical research needs to be conducted for better understanding and deeper analysis.