Piloting the Sexual and Gender Minority Cancer Curricular Advances for Research and Education (SGM Cancer CARE) Workshop: Research Training in the Service of SGM Cancer Health Equity

Miria Kano, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA. mkano@salud.unm.edu.
Irene Tamí-Maury, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Irene.Tami@uth.tmc.edu.
Mandi L. Pratt-Chapman, Department of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Shine Chang, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention Research Training Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Mikaela Kosich, Biostatistics Shared Resource, The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Gwendolyn P. Quinn, Department of OBGYN, Perlmutter Cancer Center, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
Tonia Poteat, Department of Social Medicine, Lineberger Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Peter A. Kanetsky, Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
Ronit Elk, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Ulrike Boehmer, Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Julian Sanchez, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
Charles Kamen, Department of Surgery, Cancer Control, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
Nelson F. Sanchez, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

11-18-2022

Journal

Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education

DOI

10.1007/s13187-022-02233-0

Keywords

Cancer health disparities; Education and training; Healthcare providers; LGBTQ; Researchers; SGM; Sexual and gender minorities

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the context, curriculum design, and pilot evaluation of the educational program "Sexual and Gender Minority Cancer Curricular Advances for Research and Education" (SGM Cancer CARE), a workshop for early-career researchers and healthcare providers interested in gaining knowledge and skills in sexual and gender minority (SGM) cancer research and healthcare advocacy. A needs assessment of a sample of clinicians and researchers (n = 104) and feedback from an Advisory Board informed the curriculum design of the SGM Cancer CARE workshop. Four SGM-tailored modules, focusing on epidemiology, clinical research, behavioral science and interventions, and community-based participatory approaches, were developed and tested in a 2.5-day virtual format among 19 clinicians and researchers. A fifth module to provide feedback to participants on brief presentations about their SGM cancer research ideas or related efforts was added later. A mixed-methods evaluation comprised of pre- and post-modular online evaluation surveys and virtual focus groups was used to determine the degree to which the workshop curriculum met participant needs. Compared to pre-module evaluations, participants reported a marked increase in SGM cancer research knowledge in post-module scores. Quantitative results were supported by our qualitative findings. In open field response survey questions and post-workshop focus groups, participants reported being extremely pleased with the content and delivery format of the SGM Cancer CARE workshop. Participants did regret not having the opportunity to connect with instructors, mentors, and colleagues in person. The SGM Cancer CARE curriculum was shown to increase the knowledge, skills, and level of preparedness of early-career clinicians and scientists to conduct culturally relevant and appropriate research needed to improve care for SGM persons across the cancer care continuum from prevention to survivorship.

Department

Medicine

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