Oncology patients' preferences regarding sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) disclosure and room sharing.

Abstract

Disproportionate rates of certain cancers exist among sexual and gender minority (SGM) older adults. Collecting sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) information is important in providing individualized care. This study assessed cancer patients' perceptions regarding SOGI questions, preferred ways to communicate SOGI information to healthcare providers and comfort in sharing room with SGM patients. 225 oncology patients completed self-reported surveys. Descriptive and stratified analyses were utilized to analyze patient perceptions regarding SOGI questions and to explore differences by demographic characteristics. Participants reported favorable perceptions regarding gender, M = 4.48 (SD = .81), sex-at-birth, M = 4.51 (SD = .77), pronoun, M = 4.36 (SD = .87), and sexual orientation, M = 4.53 (SD = .74) questions, regardless of demographic characteristics (p > 0.05, for all stratified analyses). Overall, 56.7 % participants reported comfort in sharing room with someone of a different SO, 59.2 % cisgender men reported comfort in sharing room with a transgender man, and 37.8 % cisgender women reported comfort in sharing room with a transgender woman. This study examined oncology patient perceptions regarding SOGI disclosure. The invisibility of SGM populations in the context of cancer care is directly attributable to the lack of SOGI data collection. Cancer care institutions should gather SOGI data to provide individualized care to all cancer patients.