3D Printed Models Offer Superior Advantages in Medical Student Education

Abstract

each station before proceeding to the next one. When students arrived at the 3D printed model station, they were asked to complete a pre-and post-intervention survey with the aim of assessing their knowledge and understanding of cardiac lesions, as well as their opinion towards the educational benefit of each modality (presented at each station). Results showed that student’s knowledge was significantly improved for every cardiac lesion (p<0.001) after the use of 3D printed models. There was a strong positive correlation between the mean knowledge increase and improved understanding of the complexity of CHD (p=0.03). Regarding the preferred teaching tools in CHD, pathology, 3D printed models and spoken explanation were ranked as the most helpful teaching methods with 80.7%, 74.2% and 65% of students rating them as the top 3 choices, respectively. Further, students strongly agreed that 3D printed models increased their confidence in explaining and understanding congenital heart anatomy and disease when compared to other modalities (mean score: 4.24 ± 0.69 out of 5).