Abstract D019: SGM Cancer CARE: Creating a health workforce trained to conduct sexual and gender minority (SGM) affirmative research from prevention to survivorship

Abstract

Abstract Background: A health workforce trained to conduct SGM-inclusive cancer research is needed for SGM persons seeking comprehensive cancer care including prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship. Research on SGM cancer care has described many disparities, and a number of studies of SGM individuals have documented increased exposure to cancer-risk factors and certain cancers, as well as poorer cancer outcomes. Yet SGM patients are extremely diverse, presenting with unique and varied care needs. Although research on SGM groups has grown, gaps persist in the knowledge of specific SGM cancer risk factors and treatment experiences that are critical for developing evidence-based oncology care guidelines across the cancer care continuum. As no nationally available resource routinely trains and prepares the oncology/biomedical workforce for SGM cancer research, we were recently awarded, a National Cancer Institute 1R25CA240113=01 (Chang and Sanchez PIs), SGM Cancer CARE (Sexual and Gender Minority Cancer: Curricular Advances for Research and Education), to design an up-to-date, competency-based interactive 2-day workshop for early career researchers. We will present results from the needs assessment of researcher and oncology provider needs for SGM cancer research training, clinical care, and health care advocacy that supported our application. Approaches: We distributed an electronic survey containing 32 questions to determine health and research professional interest in, and need for, SGM specific cancer training and education through several professional organization list serves including the LGBTQ Workforce Conference and the Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP). Results: Respondents (n=138) worked predominantly in academic medical centers and public health/government, as researchers (54.62%), clinicians (14.62%), educators (22.31%), and administrators (7.69%). They identified 3 key priorities for improving SGM cancer health research: 1) Increased knowledge of SGM cancer research priorities (3.99 Mean, SD 1.22); 2) Updates on current SGM cancer literature (5.61 Mean, SD 1.45); and 3) Assistance building advisory committees of relevant stakeholders to ensure design and conduct of culturally competent SGM cancer and cancer health disparities research (5.64 Mean, SD 1.40). Importantly, 90.6% lacked sufficient resources for travel to attend SGM cancer research training opportunities, indicating desires for web-based education or blending learning modalities. Conclusion: Findings from our needs assessment suggest that the SGM Cancer CARE curriculum in development is responsive to the needs of health and research professionals. Intended for presentation in a 1.5 day pilot workshop, however, financial constraints may necessitate designing flexible learning formats in order to reach an array of professionals and stimulate learning, thereby increasing SGM cancer research leading to more equitable health for vulnerable SGM populations. Citation Format: Miria Kano, Dominique Jasperse, Irene Tami-Murray, Yen Nhi Pham, Nelson Sanchez, Shine Chang. SGM Cancer CARE: Creating a health workforce trained to conduct sexual and gender minority (SGM) affirmative research from prevention to survivorship [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr D019.