Innovations in cardio-oncology community engagement
Community engagement is a key component for a comprehensive approach to cardio-oncology care, involving various stakeholders such as patients, caregivers, health care providers, researchers, and policy makers in the development and implementation of tailored interventions. The main components of community engagement are collaboration with different societies, consultations with health care specialists and communications at various levels, addressing disparities in healthcare. The concept of innovation in cardio-oncology community engagement evolved mostly after the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic exposed the inequalities in healthcare based on social and ethnic factors, while also driving innovation in virtual care to address patient outreach challenges. Innovations to incorporate social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, telehealth, and digital health played a crucial role in spreading awareness. The integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning and precision cardio-oncology will facilitate the early detection of cardiotoxicity and individualized interventions in cancer patients. Several organizations like the International Cardio-Oncology Society and the European Society of Cardiology, to name a few, are also showing seamless enthusiasm for education and research in modern innovations, utilizing digital health and communications. However, these innovative tools are yet to be tested and validated by structured randomized controlled trials. The future holds exciting promise for cardio-oncology, and a lot has been and will be contributed through community engagement.
