Authors (including presenting author) :
Chan HH, Li SC, Yeung PS, Lui NF
Affiliation :
Occupational Therapy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Department of Medicine (Renal care), Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Introduction :
Background: Self-managed home hemodialysis plays a key role in advancing Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) for dialysis patients in Hong Kong. To perform it at home, patients have to learn various procedure and understanding the operation of the machine before they can manage it independent at home. The specialist nurses in renal team have designed an intensive training program to assess patient’s abilities and guide them through each step thoroughly with practice. However, due to one-hand procedure during self-cannulation, patient reports difficulties in stabilizing the plastic cannula cap or attach/ detach the syringe during process. Renal nurses have invited occupational therapist to design an aids to tackle this problem in order to facilitate patient’s home haemodialysis. Occupational therapist tries to design and use 3D printing technology to fabricate an assistive device to assist patients in the procedure at home, which patients have reported promising and positive experience during application.
Objectives :
Objectives: The objectives of this study are 1) to introduce the 3D-printed assistive devices to facilitate the self-cannulation procedure for patients to perform home haemodialysis, 2) to report the feedbacks from patients which base on a survey collected about the device.
Methodology :
Methodology: Occupational therapist is invited to observe the procedure in haemodialysis for analyzing the difficulties patients encounter. The objective of the device is to prevent the plastic cannula body from rotation while twist off the cap of plastic cannula or screw in and out of the syringe with one hand technique. With a serial of fabrication, printing and modification, we have finalized two models of plastic cannula clamp holder for patient’s application.
Result & Outcome :
Result: In the period of 2020 to 2021, we have prescribed the 3D printed plastic cannula holder to 7 patients (4 females and 3 males). We have designed a self-administrative questionnaire which consists 10 questions to collect their feedback after using them. A total number of 2 first model plastic cannula holder and 11 second model plastic cannula holder applied. 86% of patients cannot perform home haemodialysis independently before application 3D holder, while all of them can conduct the procedure independently after it. 28.6% strongly agree and 57.1% agree that they can reduce the assistance from others by using this 3D device. 71.4% of patients strongly agree that the new device can improve the process. Implication: 3D printed assistive devices were invented to assist renal patient who encountered difficulty to conduct the cannulation procedure independently. After all, the result was encouraging and promising which foster occupational therapists to utilize 3D printing in making specific device to tackle individual’s needs. The best value of 3D print technology is that it can bridge the gap between a thinker and a maker in order to manufacture some products which may not possible without inducement of high market value. The products can serve small size individuals with specific need. As an occupational therapist, we should further explore and make contribution to enhance patient’s independency to live to its fullest.
