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; Irene Tamí-Maury; Mandi L Pratt-Chapman; Shine Chang; Mikaela Kosich; Gwendolyn P Quinn; Tonia Poteat; Peter A Kanetsky; Ronit Elk; Ulrike Boehmer; Julian Sanchez; Charles Kamen; Nelson F Sanchez

doi:10.1007/s13187-022-02233-0

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

J Cancer Educ. 2023 Jun;38(3):1066-1076. doi: 10.1007/s13187-022-02233-0. Epub 2022 Nov 18.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ 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.
² 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.
³ Department of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
⁴ 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.
⁵ Biostatistics Shared Resource, The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
⁶ Department of OBGYN, Perlmutter Cancer Center, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
⁷ Department of Social Medicine, Lineberger Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁸ Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
⁹ Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
¹¹ Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
¹² Department of Surgery, Cancer Control, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
¹³ Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.

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.

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

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Curriculum
Educational Status
Health Equity*
Humans
Neoplasms* / prevention & control
Sexual and Gender Minorities*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding