Abstract IA018: Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) collection: Experiences at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center

Abstract

Abstract Wide-spread collection of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data has been a barrier to conduct of research to identify disparities and inequitable cancer care among sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations. Additionally, lack of SOGI data in electronic health records (EHR) renders clinical care teams unable to integrate such information into appropriate and tailored care and treatment plans and may delay the establishment of respectful, affirming, and knowledgeable relationships between patients and their cancer care teams, and the institutions in which they receive health care. The absence of SOGI data in EHRs also prevents the identification of individuals from SGM groups for inclusion into clinical trials to improve and strengthen the evidence-base for clinical treatment of cancer, from prevention through survivorship. Despite many organizations urging improvement in evidence-based cancer care for SGM populations, satisfactory progress has not yet been achieved in part attributed to the lack of widespread SOGI collection in medical records. As a first step in identifying and remedying real-world disparities and inequity among SGM populations, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute (Tampa, FL) began collecting sexual orientation in 2016 and gender identity in 2017 as standard-of-care demographic items for all new patients.  Moffitt Cancer Center is one of the first NCI-Designated Cancer Centers to collect SOGI as standard-of-care demographics for all patients.  All new patients are required to complete the web-based electronic patient questionnaire prior (EPQ) to, or on the day of, their first visit. EPQ data are integrated into the EHR, and available at the point of care.  To date, SOGI demographics have been collected on over 150,000 patients and ~3.5% of our patient population are self-identified as a SGM. Leveraging this valuable and largely unique data resource among NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, we have already identified real-world disparities and inequity among SGM persons with cancer. Additional research is underway to address issues related to intersectionality and to identify barriers to improve SOGI disclosure.  In this session, we will present our approach to implement institutional-side SOGI collection and dispel myths about the difficulties and barriers to implementing SOGI data collection. Citation Format: Matthew B. Schabath. Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) collection: Experiences at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr IA018.