Cardio-Oncology Awareness: A multidisciplinary survey amongst health care trainees and practicing professionals at academic institutions.

e24023 Background: The awareness of cancer therapy-related adverse cardiac effects is incited by recent literature on cardiotoxicity incidence and detection strategies. Despite availability of guidelines, cardiotoxicity monitoring and treatment are not structurally performed across institutions. Aim: Assessing knowledge of health care professionals’ cardiac complications of cancer treatments, current perspectives on cardio-oncology ultimately to determine an agenda for improvements in practice. Methods: A web-based survey (Google Forms) was adapted from that of Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s survey, consisting of 45 questions organized into 7 sections, modified according to our local needs and circulated to cardiologists, oncologists (radiation, medical) practicing or training in a multi-disciplinary setup and academic centers. Fortnightly reminders were sent for to receive a maximum response. The survey enquired about implementing respondent’s perception of cardio-oncology, availability of cardio-oncology services at the respondent’s institution, opinions towards current practice. A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out. Results: Fifty-five professionals completed the survey, of which 12 were cardiologists, 31 radiation oncologists, and 12 medical oncologists. Majority, 31 (54.5%) were trainees and only 1.8% had some formal training in cardio-oncology while 20% respondents reported to have a formal cardio-oncology training programme. Nearly 90% understood cardio-oncology as a stream to be able to identify side-effects and refer for treatment to the cardiologists while 84% felt that timely referral would improve outcomes.72% recognized follow-up and 67.3% felt patient education to be important component. Awareness of cardio-oncology guidelines was reported by 38.2% respondents. In the setting of metastatic cancer, there was a difference in risk tolerance for cardiotoxicity with the majority accepting 1-5% risk in curative setting and 56% accepting > 5% risk of cardiotoxicity in the metastatic setting. None of the institutions reported on having a formal training programme. Limited infrastructure (54.5%) and limited interest (47.3%) were cited the most common reasons. Conclusions: This survey identified that professionals recognize cardio-oncology services to be an important component of cancer treatment. Lack of formal training and awareness about guidelines was reported. There is a felt need for collaboration between cardiologists and oncologists to improve cardiovascular outcomes of cancer patients.