"Did I get into the twilight zone somehow?": sexual and gender minority cancer caregiver experiences during COVID.
Cancer Causes Control
; 34(7): 563-568, 2023 Jul.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2312192
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges for cancer patients and caregivers. Little is known about the confluence of the pandemic and people with multiple marginalized identities, such as those in the Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) community.METHODS:
We conducted a mixed-methods pilot study using semi-structured interviews to elicit experiences of cancer among a diverse population of SGM patients and caregivers and a matched set of cisgender heterosexual (cishet) individuals. Here, we present qualitative findings focused on caregiver experiences as ascertained from the broader study.RESULTS:
We discovered differences between SGM and cishet caregiving experiences, with SGM caregivers reporting less comfort in the cancer center environment; dissatisfaction with patient-provider communication; feeling excluded from their loved ones' care; and increased social isolation resulting from the caregiver experience. SGM and cishet caregivers described the detrimental impact of the pandemic.CONCLUSION:
Our data suggest SGM caregivers experience additional burdens to cancer caregiving when compared to cishet peers. Although SGM and cishet caregivers reported challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges appeared greater and more acute for SGM caregivers. Pandemic-related findings point to overall gaps in SGM cancer caregiver supports that may be remedied by additional research and targeted intervention development.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sexual and Gender Minorities
/
COVID-19
/
Neoplasms
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Cancer Causes Control
Journal subject:
Epidemiology
/
Neoplasms
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10552-023-01708-9
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