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LGBTQ plus cancer patients: Are UK oncologists being supported to develop essential knowledge, attitudes and behaviours to provide quality care?
Berner, A. M. Hughes, D. J. Tharmalingam, H Baker, T. Heyworth, Ben Banerjee, S. Saunders, Daniel
Berner, A. M.
Hughes, D. J.
Tharmalingam, H
Baker, T.
Heyworth, Ben
Banerjee, S.
Saunders, Daniel
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Abstract
Background: Over 1 million people in the United Kingdom identify as LGBTQ+
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning) with increasing literature
highlighting inequalities in their cancer care. A recent study of US oncologists
revealed 53.1% were confident in their knowledge of health needs of LGB patients
and 36.9% of transgender patients. To date, no UK studies have evaluated selfperceived
knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of oncologists about LGBTQ+ patients.
Methods: Our questionnaire-based study was administered via a secure online
platform, with a majority Likert-scale responses. Questions assessed knowledge, attitudes
and behaviours about LGBTQ+ patients. Consultant and trainee, medical, and
clinical oncologists were recruited via email through specialty organisations and social
media. Informed consent was sought and responses fully anonymised. Results were
presented as descriptive statistics. Multifactorial ordinal logistic regression and
Fisher’s exact test were used to assess interactions between demographics and responses
with Holm-Bonferroni multiple testing correction.
Results: 258 participants (mean age of 43 years) were recruited over 6 weeks. Gender
identities were 56.7% female, 40.3% male and 1.1% undisclosed. 65% of respondents
were consultants, 42% were medical and 54% clinical oncologists. Whilst 83.7% felt
comfortable treating LGBTQ+ patients, only 8.8% reported confidence in their
knowledge of their healthcare needs. 67.5% felt that LGBTQ+ healthcare needs should
be a mandatory component of a postgraduate curriculum in oncology. Only 2.4% and
5.4% enquired about a patient’s gender identity and sexual orientation respectively,
as part of their consultation.
Conclusions: This study highlights a deficit in knowledge of oncologists of specific
cancer care needs of LGBTQ+ patients and a desire to address this through training.
Overall oncologists feel comfortable treating LGBTQ+ patients but may fail to identify
these patients in their clinic, making it more difficult to meet those needs. Educational
resources developed from the findings of this study could improve the confidence
of oncologists and address health inequalities for the LGBTQ+ population.
Description
Date
2020
Publisher
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Keywords
Type
Meetings and Proceedings
Citation
Berner AM, Hughes DJ, Tharmalingam H, Baker T, Heyworth B, Banerjee S, et al. 1614P LGBTQ+ cancer patients: Are UK oncologists being supported to develop essential knowledge, attitudes and behaviours to provide quality care? Annals of Oncology. 2020;31:S969-S.