Abstract 22: Sexual and gender minority patients report psychosocial concerns and low quality of life entering cancer treatment
Authors: Yang Min-Jeong , Pérez-Morales Jaileene , Miller Jarred D. , Simmons Vani N. , Schabath Matthew B. 
Published: June 2022

Background: Prior studies have suggested that underserved and minority populations experience psychosocial concerns and low quality of life (QoL) regarding their cancer care experience; however, presently there are limited data regarding psychosocial concerns and QoL among sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations (i.e., LGBTQ). Given the significantly higher emotional difficulties among SGM cancer patients and adverse impact of psychosocial vulnerabilities on patient outcomes, understanding of unique concerns related to physical/emotional health and QoL among SGM cancer patients is an unmet need. The current study analyzed the association between psychosocial concerns and QoL by SGM status.

Methods: Participants (N=70,312) were cancer patients who completed a standard-of-care electronic patient questionnaire (EPQ) during their initial visits at the Moffitt Cancer Center. The EPQ captures patient-reported information on demographics (including sexual orientation and gender identity [SOGI]), medical history, family cancer history, lifestyle factors, use of complementary and alternative medicine, and QoL. The SOGI questions were used to identify SGM and non-SGM patients. The outcome variables were concerns in (1) having someone who can help the patient during treatment, (2) interference with ability to seek care (e.g., transportation, financial), (3) problems with work or other regular activities due to physical/emotional health and pain over the past 4 weeks, and (4) perceived general health. Pearson’s Chi-Square test and ANOVA were utilized; significance was determined by p&lt;0.05.

Results: Approximately 2.3% of the population self-identified as an SGM. SGM vs. non-SGM patients reported significantly greater concerns in having someone who can help the patient (4.4% vs 2.7%; p&lt;.001), interference with ability to seek care (21.8% vs 16.6%; p&lt;.001), and reported having accomplished less than one would like (36.6% vs 27.8%; p&lt;.001), and engaged in activities less carefully than usual (23.1% vs 18.2%; p&lt;.001) as a result of emotional problems. Further, SGM vs. non-SGM patients reported significantly greater interference due to pain and overall physical/emotional problems (p&lt;.001) and marginally significant worse perceived general health (p=.060). Daily interference due to physical health did not differ between SGM and non-SGM patients.

Discussion: These data suggest that SGM cancer patients compared to non-SGM cancer patients are reporting less psychosocial resources and lower QoL. These results add to the existing literature by elucidating potential difficulties in cancer treatment and preexisting interference due to emotional difficulties and pain among SGM cancer patients with heterogeneous cancer types. Further research is warranted in the short- and long-term impact of such concerns on cancer outcomes and potential need for early intervention.

Citation Format: Min-Jeong Yang, Jaileene Pérez-Morales, Jarred D. Miller, Vani N. Simmons, Matthew B. Schabath. Sexual and gender minority patients report psychosocial concerns and low quality of life entering cancer treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 22.