JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

3D technology can facilitate healthcare consultations by promoting a better understanding of information by patients and shared decision-making. However, little is yet known about the general public’s perspectives about the acceptability of such innovative technology and how it can best be adopted into routine healthcare consultations. There is a need to explore perceptions to avoid the risk of implementing 3D technologies that may not be acceptable or fit-for-purpose.

Objective:

To explore the patient and public perceptions of the use of 3D technology during healthcare consultations.

Methods:

This study adopted a citizen science approach using mixed methods to conduct (a) a short online survey with members of the public to gather a wide range of opinions regarding the use of various technologies for healthcare consultations (b) a longer online survey to explore perceived barriers and opportunities people report on the use of 3D technology and (c) telephone interviews with four patients who recently used 3D technology as part of their healthcare consultations.

Results:

Most participants did not have experience with using 3D technology however, people reported that they could see the potential benefits of such technology to facilitate healthcare consultations. They expressed positive perceptions towards how this might assist in comprehension of a diagnosis and discussing alternative treatment plans. They also mentioned potential benefits in relation to communication and shared decision making either with their healthcare provider and/or with their friends and family. There was a strong interest and willingness to use 3D technology in future healthcare consultations.

Conclusions:

The use of 3D technology in healthcare settings is now an option but there is little research to date on how patients and the wider public might benefit from this. This qualitative study has shown that people are accepting of 3D technology being used in healthcare consultations and that there might be real benefits to the patient. These include improved individual and shared decision making around their treatment through the technology making disease and treatment options easier to understand for patients. Since 3D technology can still be expensive, the benefits to the patient and healthcare professionals need to be captured and quantified in terms of reduced travel, efficient use of time, and overall better quality of care and clinical outcomes.