2. UroToday Home
  3. Recent Abstracts
  4. Urologic Oncology
  5. Prostate Cancer

Urologists and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer Patients: A Survey-Based Study of the Practice Patterns, Attitudes, and Knowledge Base of Urologists Toward Their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer Patients

Objective

To assess urologists' attitudes toward treating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBT) patients and counseling practices during diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Methods

A 35-question survey was sent to program directors of U.S. urology residency programs.

Results

154 responses met the inclusion criteria. Respondents were primarily male, heterosexual, in academia, representing a range of ages and geography. 54.2% of respondents don't assume patients are heterosexual. While 88% of providers feel comfortable discussing sexual health with LGBTQ patients, 42.9% disagree that knowing sexual orientation is necessary to providing optimal care. 57.8% of respondents don't provide intake forms to indicate sexual orientation and 60.4% don't inquire about sexual orientation during history-taking. A majority (32.7%) reported 1-5 hours of LGBTQ health training. 74.3% believe more training is needed. 74.5% agreed to being listed as an LGBTQ-Friendly Provider currently, 65.8% felt they needed additional training. 63.6% agreed the prostate is a source of sexual pleasure. 55.9% believed it important to assess sexual satisfaction in patients who engage in receptive anal intercourse after prostate cancer treatment. Responses were mixed regarding the timing of resuming receptive anal intercourse after treatment and whether patients are counseled to refrain from anal stimulation before PSA testing. Answers to knowledge questions regarding anal cancer and communication were primarily correct; answers to questions regarding anejaculation and differences in health concerns were mixed.

Conclusion

Ongoing education is necessary on specific differences between heterosexual and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) patient concerns and how to apply this knowledge in order to address the needs of a rapidly aging LGBTQ population.
Alex J Xu1, Evan J Panken2, Christopher D Gonzales-Alabastro2, Hui Zhang3, Irene B Helenowski3, Adam B Murphy4, Rahul Prabhu2, Channa Amarasekera2

  1. NYU Langone Health, Department of Urology, NY.
  2. Northwestern Medicine, Department of Urology, Chicago, IL.
  3. Northwestern Medicine, Preventative Medicine, Chicago, IL.
  4. Northwestern Medicine, Department of Urology, Chicago, IL; Northwestern Medicine, Preventative Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Source: Xu AJ; Panken EJ; Gonzales-Alabastro CD; Zhang H; Helenowski IB; Murphy AB; Prabhu R; Amarasekera C; Urologists and lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer Patients: A Survey-Based Study of the Practice Patterns, Attitudes, and Knowledge Base of Urologists Toward Their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer Patients, Urology.