1Assistant Professor, Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, India
Email: lakshmim6@srmist.edu.in
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9916-4501
2Assistant Professor, Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, India
Email: ansuj@srmist.edu.in
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6785-7801
3Postgraduate Student, Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, India
Email: joshuastephan2004@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1725-019X
Corresponding Author: Dr. M. Lakshmipriya
Digital streaming platforms have reshaped the production and consumption of audiovisual content, allowing regional narratives to reach wider audiences and creating new spaces for genre-based storytelling. Medical dramas distributed through OTT platforms present dramatized representations of healthcare institutions, medical professionals, and hospital environments, which can influence viewers' perceptions and understanding of healthcare practices. This study investigates the representation of healthcare in the Tamil OTT medical drama series Heart Beat available on Disney+ Hotstar and examines how audiences perceive the realism and credibility of these portrayals. The research adopts a mixed-method approach that combines qualitative content analysis of selected episodes with a quantitative audience survey. The content analysis explores the depiction of medical procedures, professional roles, ethical dilemmas, and hospital settings within the narrative. The audience survey gathers viewers' opinions regarding the authenticity of healthcare representation and the influence of the series on their understanding of medical practices. The findings reveal that the series portrays healthcare professionals as committed and skilled individuals working within a structured hospital environment, emphasizing teamwork, patient care, and professional responsibility. Although certain medical scenarios are dramatized for narrative engagement, most viewers perceive the overall representation of healthcare as relatively realistic and credible. The study also highlights the role of OTT platforms in shaping audience engagement with serialized narratives and contributing to broader awareness of healthcare environments. By examining both textual representation and audience interpretation, the research contributes to discussions on healthcare communication, media representation, and the growing influence of digital streaming platforms in contemporary media culture.
Keywords: Medical Drama, OTT Platforms, Healthcare Representation, Audience Perception and Digital Streaming.
How to cite this article: Lakshmipriya M, Joy AE, Joshua S. Medical Drama in the Digital Era: Audience Perceptions of Healthcare Representation in the Tamil OTT Series Heart Beat. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(6s): 924-930; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.6s.121
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None