Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2021

Exploring healthcare providers’ perspectives on psychosexual healthcare for LGBTIQ+ cancer survivors: A mixed-methods study (#83)

Sylvia Eugene Dit Rochesson 1 2 , Alana Fisher 1 2 , Haryana Dhillon 2 3
  1. The Matilda Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  2. Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  3. Faculty of Science, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Background:

Psychosexual health is an important part of cancer survivors’ wellbeing, yet healthcare providers (HCPs) rarely discuss or address these healthcare concerns. Existing barriers hindering psychosexual health communication may be exacerbated in care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) communities due to the limited LGBTIQ+ health education and training that HCPs receive. Previous research has explored experiences of LGBTIQ+ survivors, while HCPs’ perspectives remain unexplored. This study explored the experiences of multi-disciplinary Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) oncology HCPs with psychosexual healthcare for LGBTIQ+ cancer patients.

Methods:

We used a mixed-methods design, with an online survey distributed to ANZ-based oncology HCPs through professional networks, social media posts, and emailed invitations. Survey questions assessed HCPs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding LGBTIQ+ and psychosexual healthcare. Upon survey completion, HCPs were invited to participate in a semi-structured qualitative interview. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically using Framework Methods.  Planned sample size was 100, to represent oncology HCP, this was pragmatically defined. Qualitative data provided a deeper perspective on experiences.

Results:

Survey respondents (n=60) demonstrated moderate knowledge of LGBTIQ+ healthcare on average (M=4.9/9 items correct). All HCPs reported comfort treating LGBTIQ+ patients but most felt uninformed about LGBTIQ+ healthcare (70%) and wanted more education (87%). Around half felt comfortable discussing the psychosexual health of LGBTIQ+ survivors (53%). Qualitative analyses of interviews (n=11) yielded four main themes, indicating: (1) HCPs’ knowledge and values; (2) patients’ needs; (3) organisational barriers, such as limited resources; and (4) systemic profession-based values often impact decisions to discuss psychosexual health with LGBTIQ+ survivors.

Conclusion:

Findings suggest existing barriers to communicating about psychosexual health increase the complexity of delivering person-centred cancer care for LGBTIQ+ survivors. LGBTIQ+ health education and structural changes within institutions will be essential to improve HCPs’ capabilities to care for LGBTIQ+ patients’ psychosexual needs.