Effects of a 3D-Printed Port-A Catheter Model Training Course for Patient Discharge Instruction

Background： Cancer patients often require long-term administration of chemotherapy drugs, nutritional supplementation, and blood transfusions. During these treatments, an implantable central venous access (port-a catheter) is often utilized to avoid the inconvenience of repeated needle insertions for treatment and to minimize the risk of medication leakage. Port-A catheters are considered a safer clinical measure. However, poor care and maintenance of the catheter can lead to complications such as infection, catheter damage, and leakage, which can even result in death. The study aims to assess the impact of patient discharge education on their knowledge and satisfaction regarding catheter care.

Methods： This study focuses on patient education and evaluating its effectiveness. It employs a prospective randomized controlled trial with a cross-sectional design and parallel groups. The participants are divided into the 3D model group (experimental group) and the conventional education group (control group). A total of 120 subjects from the hematology-oncology ward are included in the study. The participants are randomly assigned to either the experimental group (60 participants) or the control group (60 participants) based on the month of admission, following a cluster randomization approach.

Effect： The investigator anticipate that the use of a 3D-printed upper body Port-A catheter model will yield better results in patient discharge education.