A knowledge, attitudes and practices survey for medical trainees about cancer in the LGBTQ community.

Abstract

e19073 Background: The purpose of our study was to assess the extent of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding cancer in the LGBTQ community among medical students and resident physicians at the Detroit Medical Centre/Wayne State University program. Methods: A 15 question validated survey was electronically provided to medical students and resident physicians. The survey included questions that assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding cancer in the LGBTQ community. Respondents selected a choice based on a 5 item rating scale that ranged from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." In addition, participant demographics including training level and gender/sexual identity were collected. Descriptive statistics (counts and percentages) were used to quantify survey responses. Results: A total of 110 responses were received. The respondents consisted of 77% medical students as well as 8.2% interns and 13.7% senior residents in the department of internal medicine. Five percent of the responders reported having rotations in Corktown Health Center, which is an LGBTQ clinic. Majority (82.7%) reported that they were heterosexual while the rest were homosexual, bisexual, pansexual or preferred not to say. In terms of knowledge, one third of the responders reported being well informed on the health needs of LGBTQ patients. While majority (82.1%) believed that LGBTQ patients avoid accessing healthcare, 7% of the respondents disagreed that transgender individuals are less likely to have health insurance. In terms of attitudes, majority (97%) agreed that the LGBTQ population has unique health risks. 82% of the responders believe that it is important to know the gender identity and the sexual orientation of the patients to provide the best care, however only 30% practiced actively inquiring about a patient’s sexual orientation when taking a history. One third of the responders assume that the patient is heterosexual upon first encounter. Ninety five percent of medical trainees agreed that formal education needs to be provided in medical school or as part of residency curriculum on LGBTQ health needs. Conclusions: Our survey shows that there is a gap in knowledge and practices of medical trainees about health needs of the LGBTQ population. Majority of the respondents believe that training about cancer in the LGBTQ population needs to be integrated into medical school or residency curriculum. Exclusion of LGBTQ- specific health needs from medical school and residency curricula contributes to cancer related health inequities faced by this population.