Abstract PO-067: LGBTQ patients and cancer care: A scoping review of U.S. physician attitudes, biases, and interactions

Abstract

Abstract As lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people gain increasing acceptance in U.S. society, physicians are at an important turning point. Older physicians who entered medicine when homophobia was still the norm are interacting with new generations of physicians who have emerged through the cultural debates, and increased acceptance, of LGBTQ people in our society. This dichotomous acceptance of LGBTQ people by physicians makes it unclear the extent and types of biases that remain in medical settings that negatively impact both LGBTQ patients and physicians. In cancer care, data indicate that LGBTQ patients have less timely screenings as compared with the general population, as well as negative beliefs about care and perceptions of heterosexism and homophobia among providers, among other factors. Thus, the effects of perceived homophobia by physicians can cause health disparities and inequity for LGBTQ populations. Identifying and understanding the scope of LGBTQ biases within medicine, especially in cancer care, will allow us to work at dismantling these biases. This scoping review explores existing literature outlining the types and extent of biased attitudes of physicians within the U.S. towards LGBTQ patients seeking cancer care. Citation Format: Kristi Tredway, Stephanie J. Cork, Melissa S. Camp, Tonia Poteat, Lorraine T. Dean. LGBTQ patients and cancer care: A scoping review of U.S. physician attitudes, biases, and interactions [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-067.