An ECG should be undertaken as part of physical health monitoring for newly admitted patients and as part of antipsychotic initiation and monitoring. This project compared patient experience between a traditional 12 lead ECG and a 6 lead hand held ECG device (KardiaMobile 6L device). The intention was to make ECGs within perinatal mental health better tolerated, subsequently improving physical health monitoring. On our mother and baby unit, patients were reluctant to expose the chest area to have a 12 lead ECG performed due to factors including breastfeeding and feeling self-conscious about postnatal body changes. Inability to perform 12 lead ECGs, due to lack of patient consent, increased the chance of antipsychotic prescribing without baseline monitoring. We sought to find an alternative, more acceptable way to monitor physical health in this cohort, so we could improve the safety of prescribing medications and patient care as a whole.

Data were gathered prospectively over a three-month period, on our eight-bed perinatal inpatient unit. Each patient had a 12 lead ECG performed on admission and then a hand held 6 lead ECG performed for monitoring purposes. Patients with pre-existing cardiac comorbidities were excluded. All ECGs were interpreted by a trained clinician, and patients provided formal feedback on their experience of having a traditional 12 lead ECG and a handheld ECG undertaken.

14 patients were included. All preferred the hand held ECG compared to the traditional 12 lead. Patients felt the 12 lead ECG was intrusive, describing feelings of anxiety and being uncomfortable, particularly with the amount of wires and stickers required. With the hand held device patients felt more relaxed, found the procedure easier to have done, and that it was quicker to be undertaken. All agreed they would be more likely to have regular ECGs performed if it was with the hand held device.

Although a 12 lead ECG is gold standard, in patients who decline a traditional ECG, this handheld ECG would be a safer alternative rather than no ECG being undertaken.

Patient feedback is overwhelmingly positive towards the use of the handheld ECG device, particularly as less body exposure is needed. In addition the shorter time to undertake an ECG is advantageous within the perinatal setting, as mothers are also busy caring for their infants.

The greater acceptability in this cohort should lead to better physical health monitoring, both improving patient experience and prescribing safety.