Sexual minority cancer survivors' satisfaction with care

J Psychosoc Oncol. 2016;34(1-2):28-38. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2015.1118717. Epub 2015 Nov 17.

Abstract

Satisfaction with care is important to cancer survivors' health outcomes. Satisfaction with care is not equal for all cancer survivors, and sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, gay, and bisexual) cancer survivors may experience poor satisfaction with care. Data were drawn from the 2010 LIVESTRONG national survey. The final sample included 207 sexual minority cancer survivors and 4,899 heterosexual cancer survivors. Satisfaction with care was compared by sexual orientation, and a Poisson regression model was computed to test the associations between sexual orientation and satisfaction with care, controlling for other relevant variables. Sexual minority cancer survivors had lower satisfaction with care than did heterosexual cancer survivors (B = -0.12, SE = 0.04, Wald χ(2) = 9.25, p< .002), even controlling for demographic and clinical variables associated with care. Sexual minorities experience poorer satisfaction with care compared to heterosexual cancer survivors. Satisfaction with care is especially relevant to cancer survivorship in light of the cancer-related health disparities reported among sexual minority cancer survivors.

Keywords: cancer survivorship; care satisfaction; sexual orientation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bisexuality / psychology
  • Bisexuality / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Heterosexuality / psychology
  • Heterosexuality / statistics & numerical data
  • Homosexuality / psychology
  • Homosexuality / statistics & numerical data
  • Homosexuality, Female / psychology
  • Homosexuality, Female / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minority Groups / psychology*
  • Minority Groups / statistics & numerical data
  • Models, Statistical
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data*
  • Poisson Distribution
  • Regression Analysis
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Survivors / psychology*
  • Survivors / statistics & numerical data
  • Transgender Persons / psychology
  • Transgender Persons / statistics & numerical data