The Value and Standardization of 3D Printed Medical Educational Models

The rapid advancements in 3D printing technology have transformed the field of medical education and presurgical planning. Given the novelty of this area, the literature is limited regarding end-users' feedback on how they benefited from the models. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of 3D printed educational models (3DP-EM) on educational outcomes from the end-user perspective. Surveys were conducted to assess the views of medical professionals and students on the effectiveness of 3DP-EM in enhancing their understanding of anatomical structures and surgical procedures. Results indicatsed that the use of 3DP-EM significantly improved the respondents’ understanding and retention of medical concepts (p < 0.001). Due to the positive effects of 3DP-EM on the end-users, there is a need for standardization of the 3D printing process for such models to ensure their accuracy and reproducibility.