Healthcare professionals’ initial attitudes towards 3D printing and effects of a short educational briefing: A pre-post pilot study utilising the technology acceptance model
Purpose: Adopting 3D printing technology in healthcare is variable across clinical settings and has considerable geographical differences. To advance the application of 3D printing in healthcare it is necessary to research factors inhibiting its adoption, notably in areas of low uptake. The aim of t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Annals of 3D Printed Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666964125000207 |
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| author | Una M. Cronin EmmaJude Lyons Aidan O’ Sullivan Niamh M. Cummins Leonard O’Sullivan |
| author_facet | Una M. Cronin EmmaJude Lyons Aidan O’ Sullivan Niamh M. Cummins Leonard O’Sullivan |
| author_sort | Una M. Cronin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Adopting 3D printing technology in healthcare is variable across clinical settings and has considerable geographical differences. To advance the application of 3D printing in healthcare it is necessary to research factors inhibiting its adoption, notably in areas of low uptake. The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes toward 3D printing in Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) with low experience of the technology and to assess the effectiveness of a Short Educational Video (SEV) on these perceptions in the context of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Design/Methodology/Approach: This was a pre-post intervention study in a convenience sample of HCPs. A 5-minute video was developed to introduce and inform HCPs regarding 3D printing in healthcare. Participants (n = 52) completed an online survey grounded on the TAM before and after watching the video. Wilcoxon signed rank t-tests were used to analyse pre- and post-video scores. Perceptions post-intervention increased significantly for the TAM dimensions perceived usefulness (p < 0.05), perceived ease of use (p < 0.001), attitude toward use (p < 0.001) and behavioural intention to use (p < 0.001). Findings: This study demonstrated that a brief introduction to the technology increased perceptual factors which may be related to the initial phase of adoption of such technology. An inference from the findings is that for HCPs with low previous experience of 3D printing, this may be a suitable model to provide education on the technology and potentially increase the adoption of 3D printing in the clinical setting. Increased perception is expected to contribute to increased likelihood of eventual adoption in healthcare. Originality/value: This study addresses a literature gap in adopting 3D printing within healthcare. The study demonstrated that even brief educational interventions can substantially shift perceptions among HCPs. This suggests that the SEV is a scalable and cost-effective strategy to initially promote the adoption of 3D printing within healthcare. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-42629beb202f4718bf13ea5051e6d279 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2666-9641 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of 3D Printed Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-42629beb202f4718bf13ea5051e6d2792025-08-20T03:07:00ZengElsevierAnnals of 3D Printed Medicine2666-96412025-08-011910020510.1016/j.stlm.2025.100205Healthcare professionals’ initial attitudes towards 3D printing and effects of a short educational briefing: A pre-post pilot study utilising the technology acceptance modelUna M. Cronin0EmmaJude Lyons1Aidan O’ Sullivan2Niamh M. Cummins3Leonard O’Sullivan4Rapid Innovation Unit, Confirm Smart Manufacturing Centre, University Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, IrelandRapid Innovation Unit, Confirm Smart Manufacturing Centre, University Limerick, Limerick, IrelandRapid Innovation Unit, Confirm Smart Manufacturing Centre, University Limerick, Limerick, IrelandHealth Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland; School of Medicine, SLÁINTE Research and Education Alliance in General Practice, Primary Healthcare and Public Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Ireland; Department of Paramedicine, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, AustraliaRapid Innovation Unit, Confirm Smart Manufacturing Centre, University Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland; Corresponding author at: School of Design and Confirm Smart Manufacturing Centre, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland.Purpose: Adopting 3D printing technology in healthcare is variable across clinical settings and has considerable geographical differences. To advance the application of 3D printing in healthcare it is necessary to research factors inhibiting its adoption, notably in areas of low uptake. The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes toward 3D printing in Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) with low experience of the technology and to assess the effectiveness of a Short Educational Video (SEV) on these perceptions in the context of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Design/Methodology/Approach: This was a pre-post intervention study in a convenience sample of HCPs. A 5-minute video was developed to introduce and inform HCPs regarding 3D printing in healthcare. Participants (n = 52) completed an online survey grounded on the TAM before and after watching the video. Wilcoxon signed rank t-tests were used to analyse pre- and post-video scores. Perceptions post-intervention increased significantly for the TAM dimensions perceived usefulness (p < 0.05), perceived ease of use (p < 0.001), attitude toward use (p < 0.001) and behavioural intention to use (p < 0.001). Findings: This study demonstrated that a brief introduction to the technology increased perceptual factors which may be related to the initial phase of adoption of such technology. An inference from the findings is that for HCPs with low previous experience of 3D printing, this may be a suitable model to provide education on the technology and potentially increase the adoption of 3D printing in the clinical setting. Increased perception is expected to contribute to increased likelihood of eventual adoption in healthcare. Originality/value: This study addresses a literature gap in adopting 3D printing within healthcare. The study demonstrated that even brief educational interventions can substantially shift perceptions among HCPs. This suggests that the SEV is a scalable and cost-effective strategy to initially promote the adoption of 3D printing within healthcare.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666964125000207Technology acceptanceAdoption of 3D printingAdditive manufacturingBespokeCustomEducational intervention |
| spellingShingle | Una M. Cronin EmmaJude Lyons Aidan O’ Sullivan Niamh M. Cummins Leonard O’Sullivan Healthcare professionals’ initial attitudes towards 3D printing and effects of a short educational briefing: A pre-post pilot study utilising the technology acceptance model Annals of 3D Printed Medicine Technology acceptance Adoption of 3D printing Additive manufacturing Bespoke Custom Educational intervention |
| title | Healthcare professionals’ initial attitudes towards 3D printing and effects of a short educational briefing: A pre-post pilot study utilising the technology acceptance model |
| title_full | Healthcare professionals’ initial attitudes towards 3D printing and effects of a short educational briefing: A pre-post pilot study utilising the technology acceptance model |
| title_fullStr | Healthcare professionals’ initial attitudes towards 3D printing and effects of a short educational briefing: A pre-post pilot study utilising the technology acceptance model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Healthcare professionals’ initial attitudes towards 3D printing and effects of a short educational briefing: A pre-post pilot study utilising the technology acceptance model |
| title_short | Healthcare professionals’ initial attitudes towards 3D printing and effects of a short educational briefing: A pre-post pilot study utilising the technology acceptance model |
| title_sort | healthcare professionals initial attitudes towards 3d printing and effects of a short educational briefing a pre post pilot study utilising the technology acceptance model |
| topic | Technology acceptance Adoption of 3D printing Additive manufacturing Bespoke Custom Educational intervention |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666964125000207 |
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