Care delivery, patient experiences, and health outcomes among sexual and gender minority patients with cancer and survivors: A scoping review

Background: Although national organizations advocate that health-care providers ask patients about sexual health and sexual and gender minority status—to learn, for example, about side effects of treatment and to understand patients’ social support—these conversations often do not occur. This study explored health-care providers’ reasons for having/not having these conversations. Methods: This single-institution study recruited health-care providers from medical oncology, hematology, radiation oncology, and gynecology. Face-to-face interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed qualitatively. Results: Three main themes emerged: (1) patient-centric reasons for discussing/not discussing sexual health and sexual and gender minority status (“So I think just the holistic viewpoint is important”); (2) health-care provider–centric reasons for discussing/not discussing these issues (“That’s going to take more time to talk about and to deal with…” or “I was raised orthodox, so this is not something we talk about…”; and (3) reasons that appeared to straddle both of the above themes (eg, acknowledgment of the sometimes taboo nature of these topics). Conclusion: Although many health-care providers favor talking with patients with cancer about sexual health and sexual and gender minority status, limited time, personal reluctance, and the taboo nature of these topics appear at times to hamper the initiation of these conversations.

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Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth: a Scoping Review

Current Addiction Reports ◽

10.1007/s40429-018-0196-9 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 158-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jeremy D. Kidd ◽

Kasey B. Jackman ◽

Margaret Wolff ◽

Cindy B. Veldhuis ◽

Tonda L. Hughes

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Risk And Protective Factors ◽

Minority Youth ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

And Gender

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What Oncologists Should Know About Treating Sexual and Gender Minority Patients With Cancer

JCO Oncology Practice ◽

10.1200/op.20.00036 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 309-316

Author(s):

Gwendolyn P. Quinn ◽

Ash B. Alpert ◽

Megan Sutter ◽

Matthew B. Schabath

Keyword(s):

Health Disparities ◽

Sexual Orientation ◽

Gender Identity ◽

Clinical Encounter ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Sexual Orientations ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

And Gender

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals encompass a broad spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities. Although SGM is a research term, this population is often known as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ). Typically, LGB refers to sexual orientation, T refers to gender identity, and Q may refer to either. Although each group is distinct, they share the common bond of experiencing health disparities that may be caused, in part, by stigma and discrimination, as well as by the oncology provider’s lack of knowledge and, therefore, lack of comfort in treating this population. One challenge in improving the quality of care for SGM patients with cancer is the lack of collection of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data in the medical record. Furthermore, national studies suggest that many oncologists are unsure of what to do with this information, even when it is collected, and some are uncertain as to why they would need to know the SOGI of their patients. This clinical review offers insight into the health disparities experienced by SGM individuals and strategies for improving the clinical encounter and creating a welcoming environment.

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A scoping review of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use treatment interventions for sexual and gender minority populations

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment ◽

10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108539 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 108539

Author(s):

Jeremy D. Kidd ◽

Margaret M. Paschen-Wolff ◽

Amy A. Mericle ◽

Billy A. Caceres ◽

Laurie A. Drabble ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Minority Populations ◽

Treatment Interventions ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

And Gender

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What is known about the protective factors that promote LGBTI+ youth wellbeing? A scoping review protocol

HRB Open Research ◽

10.12688/hrbopenres.13018.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nerilee Ceatha ◽

Marta Bustillo ◽

Louise Tully ◽

Oscar James ◽

Des Crowley

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Review Process ◽

Future Research ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Review Team ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

And Gender

Background: There is much concern at the substantial vulnerabilities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI+) youth as a consequence of discrimination, stigmatisation and marginalisation. Recent research highlights the importance of understanding factors that can promote wellbeing for this population. This paper presents a protocol for a scoping review which aims to systematically map and synthesise the extent and nature of the peer-reviewed, published academic literature on the protective factors that promote wellbeing for sexual and gender minority young people. Methods: In accordance with the methodological framework for scoping reviews, the following six stages will be undertaken: (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) study selection, (4) charting the data, (5) collating, summarising and reporting results and (6) consultation. The PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation will be used throughout the review process. Key inclusion criteria will use the Population, Concept, Context approach, with two reviewers independently conducting the screening and extraction stages across five databases. Identified protective factors will be collated, summarised and categorised iteratively by one reviewer in consultation with the review team. Stakeholder consultation is a key strength of the scoping review process and will be complemented by the public patient involvement of LGBTI+ young people with expertise by experience. Conclusions: The scoping review has the potential to inform policy, practice and future research through enhanced understandings of the complex interplay of factors that promote wellbeing for sexual and gender minority youth. This first stage of the research process will inform the development of a larger research project. The findings will be disseminated through a peer reviewed publication, a conference presentation and by sharing the findings with key stakeholders, including LGBTI+ young people.

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A Scoping Review of the Experiences of Violence and Abuse Among Sexual and Gender Minority Migrants Across the Migration Trajectory

Trauma Violence & Abuse ◽

10.1177/15248380211043892 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 152483802110438

Author(s):

Edward J. Alessi ◽

Shannon Cheung ◽

Sarilee Kahn ◽

Melanie Yu

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Asylum Seekers ◽

Steady Increase ◽

Structural Barriers ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Culturally Informed ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

And Gender ◽

Refugees And Asylum Seekers

Violence against sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals has continued to proliferate globally. Yet, less is known about victimization among subgroups of SGM individuals, especially SGM immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. There has been a steady increase in this vulnerable group of migrants over the years, and emerging evidence has pointed to their heightened risk of victimization. We conducted a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature that examined violence, abuse, and mental health among SGM individuals who migrate internationally. One hundred ninety-nine articles were identified by searching five scholarly databases and hand searching. Twenty-six articles met inclusion criteria. We first used the migration framework, which outlines the distinct phases of the migration trajectory (predeparture, travel, interception, destination, and return), to categorize findings and then identified four overarching themes to capture SGM migrants’ experiences at each phase: severe and prolonged violence and abuse related to sexual orientation or gender identity (predeparture); continued victimization and high-risk for sexual violence (travel); detainment- and deportation-related violence and abuse (interception and return); and new manifestations of violence and abuse while living with past trauma (destination). Violence and abuse began in childhood and continued in the host country, where they faced discrimination while managing posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. Findings indicate that SGM migrants are extremely vulnerable to victimization. There is an immediate need for policies to protect SGM individuals worldwide and for affirmative, culturally informed practices to help SGM migrants manage trauma and the structural barriers impeding recovery.

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Differences in Rape Acknowledgement and Mental Health Outcomes across Transgender, Non-binary, and Cisgender Bisexual Youth

10.31219/osf.io/b2vxr ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

RaeAnn Anderson ◽

Lesley A. Tarasoff ◽

Nicole VanKim ◽

Corey Flanders

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Minority Stress ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Stress Theory ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

Rape Acknowledgment ◽

And Gender

Objective: The purpose of this study was to document the rates of rape acknowledgment (labeling rape as rape rather than using a minimizing label), and the corresponding mental health correlates using the minority stress framework in a unique and vulnerable sample: racially diverse sexual and gender minority young adults.Method: Participants were 245 young adults who identified their sexual orientation as under the bisexual umbrella. A total of 159 of these participants (65.2%) identified their gender identity as non-binary. All participants completed a series of online questionnaires regarding their sexual victimization history, mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder: PTSD), and constructs relevant to minority stress theory (level of outness, internalized bisexual negativity, connection to LGBTQ community).Results: Rape acknowledgment was significantly greater among gender non-binary participants (79.9%) than among trans and cisgender male participants (17.9%). Lack of rape acknowledgment was associated with increased anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Outness was significantly associated with greater rape acknowledgment. Conclusions: In spite of the highly increased vulnerability for sexual violence among sexual and gender minorities, very little is understood about the mechanisms of this increased vulnerability nor their unique needs for recovery. The results of this study strongly suggest the importance of a minority stress framework for understanding this increased vulnerability and for designing sexual violence prevention and recovery interventions for sexual and gender minority populations.

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Abstract PO-013: Qualitative results to a survey of ECOG-ACRIN members regarding experience with sexual and gender minority patients with cancer

10.1158/1538-7755.disp20-po-013 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Christina L. Tamargo ◽

Edith P. Mitchell ◽

Lynne I. Wagner ◽

Melissa A. Simon ◽

Ruth C. Carlos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gender Minority ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

And Gender

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Comparing the Impact of COVID-19-Related Social Distancing on Mood and Psychiatric Indicators in Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) and Non-SGM Individuals

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.590318 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Craig Rodriguez-Seijas ◽

Eric C. Fields ◽

Ryan Bottary ◽

Sarah M. Kark ◽

Michael R. Goldstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Health Disparities ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

And Gender

Empirical evidence demonstrates mental health disparities between sexual and gender minority individuals (SGM) compared with cisgender heterosexual individuals. SGM individuals report elevated rates of emotional distress, symptoms related to mood and anxiety disorders, self-harm, and suicidal ideation and behavior. Social support is inversely related to psychiatric symptoms, regardless of SGM status. The COVID-19 pandemic—with its associated limited social interactions—represents an unprecedented period of acute distress with potential reductions in accessibility of social support, which might be of particular concern for SGM individuals' mental well-being. In the present study, we explored the extent to which potential changes in mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, worry, perceived stress, positive and negative affect) throughout the duration of the pandemic were related to differences in perceptions of social support and engagement in virtual social activity, as a function of SGM status. Utilizing a large sample of US adults (N = 1,014; 18% reported SGM status), we assessed psychiatric symptoms, perceptions of social isolation, and amount of time spent socializing virtually at 3 time windows during the pandemic (between March 21 and May 21). Although SGM individuals reported greater levels of depression compared with non-SGM individuals at all 3 time points, there was no interaction between time and SGM status. Across all participants, mental health outcomes improved across time. Perceived social isolation was associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Further, time spent engaging in virtual socialization was associated with reduced depression, but only for those in self-reported quarantine. We discuss these results in terms of the nature of our sample and its impact on the generalizability of these findings to other SGM samples as well as directions for future research aimed at understanding potential health disparities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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