Development and assessment of the effectiveness of an LGBT cultural sensitivity training for oncologists: The COLORS training.

Abstract

11000 Background: Published studies report oncologists have limited knowledge about LGBT health and cancer needs but also report high interest in receiving education regarding the unique health needs of LGBT patients with cancer. As such, our group developed the Curriculum for Oncologists on LGBT populations to Optimize Relevance and Skills (COLORS), an interactive web-based LGBT cultural sensitivity training for oncologists that focused on focused on improving knowledge and communication skill-building. We report here on the results from two single-arm feasibility/acceptability trials and one randomized pragmatic trial (RPT) demonstrating effectiveness of the COLORS training. Methods: The first single-arm trial included 44 oncologists from three cancer centers in Florida and the second single-arm trial included 50 oncology fellows recruited through ASCO. The RPT included 225 oncologists randomly selected for equal distribution across the U.S., and participants were randomly assigned to either the COLORS training or a publicly available, web-based LGBT comparison training. Each of these studies included pre- and post-training assessments of LGBT-related knowledge, attitudes, and affirming practices. The RCT included a 3-month follow-up assessment to gauge retention of LGBT-affirming knowledge, attitudes, and practices over time. Results: Both single arm trials demonstrated that the COLORS training was feasible, acceptable, and results from the pre- and post-training assessments suggested the training improved knowledge, attitudes, and affirming practice behaviors. In the RPT, those randomized to COLORS demonstrated significant improvements in LGBT-related attitudes pre- to post-training (p < 0.01), and no significant changes in attitudes were observed among those randomized to the comparison training (p = 0.98). Both trainings yielded significant (p < 0.01) increases from pre- to post-training in LGBT-affirming practice behaviors. Likewise, both trainings yielded significant (p < 0.01) improvements in knowledge from pre- to post-training. Similar significant findings were observed when we analyzed the 3-month follow-up assessment. Conclusions: Results from the prior single-arm trials and the current RCT demonstrate that the COLORS training is effective in improving oncologist knowledge, attitudes, and affirming clinical practices related to the care of LGBT patients with cancer. Part of this work was funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) Foundation and BMS Company.