(P085) UNDERSTANDING PATIENT/FAMILY PERSPECTIVES ON THE USE OF 3D PRINTED HEART MODELS OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE FOR FAMILY EDUCATION

Background: Without formal training, congenital heart disease can be a challenge to understand, particularly the 3-dimensional (3D) aspect. Echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) take years of experience to interpret. Anatomically accurate 3D-models of the heart in patients with congenital heart disease can be created from patient CT and MRI scans. Anatomically accurate models provide learners with a tangible learning object that can be manipulated to understand the 3D relationships of the cardiac structures. This work, in addition to our own experience, indicates that 3D-models of hearts are a tool appreciated by patients and families during clinical encounters, and facilitate their understanding and appreciation of the specific medical concerns of their child. This study proposes to better understand the beliefs and attitudes of pediatric cardiologists, and of parents of children with congenital heart disease, concerning the educational role of 3D heart models in discussions with patients and families. Our goal is to utilize these answers to generate a theory on how clinicians might use 3D models to better explain congenital heart disease to parents in the future.

METHODS AND RESULTS: 8 interviews with 10 parents of children with surgically corrected congenital heart disease were conducted using a mixed-methods approach. Anonymized transcripts of these interviews were analyzed for major themes using a grounded theory. Specifically, regarding the perceptions and barriers parents experience learning about heart disease as well as if 3D-printed heart models may overcome these barriers. Based on these interviews, Canadian pediatric cardiologists were surveyed regarding their own practices regarding these major barriers and their current use of 3D-printed models.

Parents find the initial circumstances extremely challenging, and are prone to being overwhelmed by a combination of information burden and jargon. Initial conversations are characterized by concern regarding survival, then long term well being. Diagnosis and specific anatomic detail become relevant to parents as a surgical date approaches. 3D models rapidly convey information about surgical details especially when colour-coded and compared to normal. Anonymized quotes are presented for emphasis. Demographic and current practice survey data from Canadian pediatric cardiologists are presented.

Conclusion: 3D-models of congenital heart disease are an accurate and increasingly cost-effective tool to support patients and families learning about congenital heart disease, yet have not been widely adopted. Addressing key barriers to parental education with 3D-models involves timing information to parental needs, highlighting comparisons and revisiting relevant details prior to surgery.