Junqueira Laura Andrade, Raposo Francisco José, Vitral Geraldo Sérgio Farinazzo, Tabriz Atabak Ghanizadeh, Douroumis Dennis, Raposo Nádia Rezende Barbosa, Brandão Marcos Antônio Fernandes
Center for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil.
Woman Health Investigation Group, Department of Surgery, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil.
Pharmaceutics. 2023 Sep 11;15(9):2302. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092302.
Three-dimensional printing technologies can be implemented for the fabrication of personalized vaginal rings (VRs) as an alternative approach to traditional manufacturing. Although several studies have demonstrated the potential of additive manufacturing, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the opinions of patients and clinicians. This study aimed to investigate the perception of women and gynecologists regarding VRs with personalized shapes. The devices were printed with different designs (traditional, "Y", "M", and flat circle) by Fused Deposition Modeling for a cross-sectional survey with 155 participants. Their anticipated opinion was assessed through a questionnaire after a visual/tactile analysis of the VRs. The findings revealed that most women would feel comfortable using some of the 3D-printed VR designs and demonstrated good acceptability for the traditional and two innovative designs. However, women presented multiple preferences when the actual geometry was assessed, which directly related to their age, previous use of the vaginal route, and perception of comfort. In turn, gynecologists favored prescribing traditional and flat circle designs. Overall, although there was a difference in the perception between women and gynecologists, they had a positive opinion of the 3D-printed VRs. Finally, the personalized VRs could lead to an increase in therapeutic adherence, by meeting women's preferences.
三维打印技术可用于制造个性化阴道环（VR），作为传统制造的替代方法。尽管多项研究已证明增材制造的潜力，但对于患者和临床医生的意见仍缺乏了解。本研究旨在调查女性和妇科医生对具有个性化形状的阴道环的看法。通过熔融沉积建模以不同设计（传统型、“Y”型、“M”型和平圆形）打印这些装置，用于对155名参与者进行横断面调查。在对阴道环进行视觉/触觉分析后，通过问卷调查评估他们的预期意见。研究结果显示，大多数女性对某些3D打印的阴道环设计使用起来会感到舒适，并且对传统设计和两种创新设计表现出良好的接受度。然而，在评估实际几何形状时，女性表现出多种偏好，这与她们的年龄、先前对阴道给药途径的使用情况以及舒适度感知直接相关。相应地，妇科医生更倾向于开传统型和平圆形设计的处方。总体而言，尽管女性和妇科医生的看法存在差异，但他们对3D打印的阴道环持积极态度。最后，个性化阴道环通过满足女性的偏好，可能会提高治疗依从性。
