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Acquisition of sexual orientation and gender identity data among NCI Community Oncology Research Program practice groups
Author(s) -
CathcartRake Elizabeth J.,
Zemla Tyler,
Jatoi Aminah,
Weaver Kathryn E.,
Neuman Heather,
Kazak Anne E.,
Carlos Ruth,
Gansauer Lucy,
Unger Joseph M.,
Pajewski Nicholas M.,
Kamen Charles
Publication year - 2019
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.31925
Subject(s) - sexual orientation , medicine , data collection , sexual identity , family medicine , orientation (vector space) , identity (music) , sexual minority , oncology , human sexuality , psychology , social psychology , gender studies , statistics , physics , mathematics , sociology , acoustics , geometry
Background Sexual and gender minority individuals face numerous cancer‐related inequities, many of which appear to be underreported. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no one has assessed rates of acquisition of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data within community oncology settings. Methods Community oncology practices that were part of the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) network were asked whether they routinely collected SOGI information and coded this information in their electronic medical records. The proportion of practice groups reporting routine collection of sexual and/or gender minority information was calculated. Potential associations between the collection of SOGI information and practice group–level and state‐level characteristics (from Gallup poll data) were also provided. Results Twenty‐four percent of the responding NCORP practice groups reported routine collection of sexual orientation information, and 10% reported collection of gender identity information. Practices located in western regions of the United States, practices in states with higher proportions of sexual and gender minority–identifying individuals, and practices with lower proportions of non‐Hispanic patients were more likely to ask patients about sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Conclusions US oncology practices that participate in research do not frequently collect SOGI information from patients with cancer. Educational initiatives should inform oncology staff and providers about the importance of collecting gender identity and sexual orientation information to improve existent disparities faced by sexual and gender minority patients.