نبذة مختصرة : Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs can address the cardiovascular disease epidemic in South America. However, there are factors limiting CR access at the patient-, provider-and system-level. The latter2havenot been extensively studied. The objective of this study was to investigate cardiology administrator’s awareness and knowledge of CR and perceptions regarding resources for CR. Methods: This study was cross-sectional and observational in design. Cardiology administrators from South American and Caribbean countries were invited to participate by members of the Grupo Interamericano de Prevención y Rehabilitación Cardiovascular. Participants completed a piloted questionnaire online. A descriptive examination was performed and differences in CR knowledge, awareness, perception, and attitudes regarding CR were described overall, by institution funding source (private vs public) and presence of within-institution CR(yes vs no).Results: Most of the55respondents from 8 countries perceived CR as important for outpatient care(mean=4.83±0.38/5with higher scores indicating more positive perceptions), with benefits including reducing hospital re-admission (4.31±0.48) and length of stay(4.64±0.71), not only for cardiac patients but for those with other vascular conditions(4.34±0.68). Those working in public institutions (50.9%) and in institutions without a CR program (25.0%) were not as aware of, and less likely to value, CR services(p<.05).Only 13.2% of programs had dedicated funding. 2Conclusions:Similar to findings from high-income settings, cardiology administrators and cardiologists in South America value CR as part of cardiac patients’ care, but funding and availability of programs restrict capacity to deliver these services ; Source of Support: We would like to acknowledge Heart & Stroke/Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence for providing fellowship funding for Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi.
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