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Physicians don't ask, sometimes patients tell
Author(s) -
Boehmer Ulrike,
Case Patricia
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.20563
Subject(s) - sexual orientation , apprehension , medicine , orientation (vector space) , narrative , self disclosure , grounded theory , qualitative research , family medicine , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychology , social science , linguistics , philosophy , geometry , mathematics , sociology , cognitive psychology
BACKGROUND The disclosure of sexual orientation to physicians is uncertain and the reasons are poorly understood. The current study was undertaken to describe the disclosure of sexual orientation among sexual minority women with breast carcinoma. METHODS Individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 39 sexual minority women with a diagnosis of breast carcinoma who lived in New England. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using qualitative data analysis software. Through constant comparison methods, themes related to disclosure were identified from the narrative data. RESULTS Sexual minority patient‐provider relationships were marked by apprehension, and providers did not inquire about sexual orientation. The majority of women actively disclosed their sexual orientation, whereas 11 women passively refused disclosure. CONCLUSIONS Providers should create opportunities for the disclosure of sexual orientation to provide more comprehensive care. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.