Haptic Heart: Evaluation of a Novel Haptic Cardiac Simulator (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Cardiac auscultation is an essential component of clinical examination but is often challenging to achieve proficiency in. Self-contained, multisensory learning resources incorporating simultaneous visual, auditory and haptic stimuli offers a unique approach to supporting learners in acquiring this core skill. OBJECTIVE This pilot study of both medical students and clinical educators evaluated the utility of a novel, iPhone application, ‘Haptic Heart’, generating haptic vibrations to simulate heart sounds and murmurs. METHODS Clinical years medical students from the Lincoln Medical School were invited to trial Haptic Heart between October 2023 - December 2024. Cardiology specialists involved in clinical education were also invited to take part. After using the application, participants were asked to complete a modified ETELM-LP-S questionnaire with added free-text questions. Educators were also asked to comment on the authenticity and perceived usefulness of the resource. RESULTS 21 students and 18 educators completed the evaluation. Both cohorts returned positive responses across nearly all questionnaire items, with students showing universal agreement that the application was of excellent quality and supported their learning needs. Educators similarly rated the resource highly for learning utility and authenticity. Technical difficulties were minimal. Analysis of free text questions suggested learners valued the ability to "feel" murmurs and vary heart rate. Educators highlighted the resource's novelty and innovation, though some noted audio quality concerns when using a stethoscope to directly auscultate the haptic vibrations. CONCLUSIONS This pilot evaluation demonstrates the potential of smartphone-based haptic technology as a tool for medical education. Haptic Heart  ™ was seen by both students and educators as an innovative educational tool for cardiac auscultation education. Further work should focus on the expanding sound libraries and exploring the effectiveness of these resources on learning