Utilizing a wearable fetal heart rate monitor to increase obstetrics healthcare access: Determining the device acceptability
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Woods, Nikki Keene
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Abstract
Maternal and infant healthcare in rural and underserved areas suffers from more adverse health outcomes than urban areas. This study targets a population that faces barriers to timely prenatal care due to gaps in medical access in rural locations. The lack of obstetrics care in rural areas is a burgeoning issue of interest, as health outcomes for rural mothers and infants are lower than their urban counterparts. As a result, there is a growing need for telemedicine services that can be rendered to rural mothers through their prenatal care. The development of a small, wearable fetal heart rate monitor will facilitate access to prenatal medical care for mothers in rural areas. This project focuses on collecting, analyzing, and implementing data of women of reproductive age (18-49) concerning their acceptability towards and feasibility of wearing a fetal echocardiogram (fECG) monitor, which would permit the transmission of fetal heart rate and relevant clinical information to their prenatal care provider. The project goal is to utilize the data provided by survey participants to determine the best configuration of the device to serve the target population, pregnant moms living in rural areas or those with lack of access to healthcare. The survey was implemented using snowball recruitment as well as postering in local communities. Data was analyzed using SPSS (v29) and descriptive statistics with respect to participant responses and demographics. 163 participants completed the survey, with 103 responses to acceptability questions; older women aged 30-49 showed higher rates of acceptability (70.07%, n=54) than young women aged 18-29 (53.06%, n=49). 70.7 % of participants preferred a device of size 1 inch by 3 inches or less (n=149). These findings will guide the design and clinical utilization of the monitoring device to ensure effective use for providers and patients alike. Collecting and analyzing this data is crucial in tailoring a product to the intended population’s needs and convenience.