For a study, researchers tried to assess the accuracy, clinical value, and usability of a wireless fetal and maternal heartbeat monitor for monitoring fetal heart rate (FHR). A convenience sample of women aged 18 years or older with a singleton pregnancy of at least 12 weeks gestation was studied in prospective, single-center research. To assess accuracy, fetal heart rate recordings were made using both the heartbeat monitor and cardiotocography. In the clinic, clinicians employed a heartbeat monitor. Women utilized the gadget on their own during clinic visits or at home. Obstetricians evaluated the clinical usefulness of FHR traces. The System Usability Scale was used by women to assess the cardiac monitor.
A total of 126 recordings were given by 81 individuals. When compared to cardiotocography, the heartbeat monitor’s accuracy was good, with limits of agreement (95%) for mean FHR between −1.6 (CI −2.0 to 1.3) and +1.0 (CI 0.7–1.4) beats per minute (bpm), mean difference −0.3 bpm, and intraclass coefficient 0.99. In all cases, the FHR was identified. Clinicians required a median (interquartile range) of 0.5 (0.2–1.2) minutes to identify the FHR, and 95% (39/41) of the time they obtained a continuous trace of more than 1 minute. Home users required a median of 0.5 (0.2–2.0) minutes to detect the FHR, with 92% (24/26) acquiring a continuous trace of more than 1 minute, for a total trace time of 4.6 (4.4–4.8) minutes. Clinically relevant traces were found in 100 percent (55/55) of clinician recordings and 97% (31/32) of home recordings. Usability and learnability of the heartbeat monitor were rated in the 96–100th percentiles.
The heartbeat monitor proved accurate and simple to use for both doctors and subjects. Data collected at home were comparable to those acquired using existing evaluation techniques for low-risk pregnancies, suggesting that the device might be utilized in telehealth consultations.
