Abstract
Telemedicine has rapidly expanded in rural India, creating a growing demand for diagnostic tools like digital stethoscopes. These devices can provide healthcare practitioners with objective data to improve the quality of remote healthcare. Despite their potential, digital stethoscopes remain underutilized in low-resource settings due to usability challenges and infrastructure limitations. This study explores the contextual requirements of digital stethoscopes in rural healthcare environments, focusing on enhancing usability, functionality, and user acceptance among healthcare workers, doctors, and medical students. Using a multi-phase research approach, we conducted interviews and field tests with 37 participants across urban and rural settings. We employed heuristic evaluation and cognitive walk-through methods to identify usability barriers. Results indicate that power management, offline usability, user training, and system integration are critical factors for adoption. Addressing these challenges requires context-specific design solutions that accommodate the diverse needs of rural healthcare practitioners while maintaining diagnostic accuracy and reliability.
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