Attitudes, Knowledge, And Need For Education About Lgbtq Patients With Cancer: A Survey By The Esmo/Siope Aya With Cancer Working Group

Sexual and gender minorities [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ)] is a diverse group that is at risk for receiving disparate cancer care. A survey of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP Europe) members was conducted, to identify challenges in attitude and knowledge, as well as interest for further education about LGBTQ patients with cancer. A link to an online survey was sent to the members of ESMO and SIOP Europe to measure attitudes and knowledge about LGBTQ health, and clinical practices. Results were analyzed by using descriptive analyses. Among the 672 respondents, there was high agreement regarding the importance of knowing the gender identity as perceived by the patient (75%) and sex at birth (78%), which was contrasted by lower agreement (54%) regarding the importance of knowing sexual orientation. However, the majority doesn’t ask about sexual orientation and gender identity during first visit (64% and 58% respectively). Only a minority of the respondents considered themselves well informed regarding gays/lesbians and transgender patients’ health (44 and 25% respectively), and psychosocial needs (34%). Questions about cancer risk in relation to sexual orientation and in those who identify themselves as a different gender compared to risk estimated based on their gender at birth yielded mixed responses. There was high interest in receiving education regarding the unique health needs of LGBTQ patients (73%), which was considered as a core skill for all cancer specialists by 72%. For most of the questions no significant differences were noted among those who defined themselves as heterosexual, gays/lesbians or bisexual. This is the largest, to our knowledge, and the first among European specialists survey, addressing attitude, knowledge and interest for further education needs about LGBTQ patients with cancer. A lack in knowledge about clinical and psychosocial issues was revealed, as well as high interest in receiving LGBTQ-specific education and clinical practice guidelines.