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PURPOSE: A disparity exists in cancer screening rates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community. We sought to understand the perceptions and baseline knowledge of cancer screening among LGBTQ+ community members. METHODS: Survey administered via social media from June 2018 to October 2018. We asked thirty-one questions focused on cancer screening, human papillomavirus, emotional distress, and experience with the healthcare system. Those included were age-eligible for cancer screening. Cancer screening attitudes and knowledge, as well as perceptions of the health care system were investigated. RESULTS: There were 422 respondents: 24.6% identified as female, 25.5% as male, 40.1% transgender and 9.6% as other. 65.4% of the LGBTQ+ community is not certain what cancer screening to do for themselves. Only 27.3% and 55.7% knew that HPV was a risk factor associated with head and neck cancer and anal cancer respectively. Half stated their emotional distress prevents them from getting cancer screening. It was identified that process changes in making appointments, comforts during the visit, and formal training for physicians and nurses could increase cancer screening compliance for this community. The transgender population had notably more gaps in knowledge of appropriate cancer screening and excess emotional distress. CONCLUSION: Gaps in cancer screening knowledge, and emotional and financial distress may be responsible for the disparity of lower cancer screening rates for the LGBTQ+ population, and the transgender population may be most at risk. Appreciating the cancer screening concerns of the LGBTQ+ population can help shape future clinical and institutional approaches to improve healthcare delivery. |
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