Provider education for culturally appropriate and compassionate care of sexual and gender minorities: Analysis of surveys administered before and after a cancer center-wide training.

290 Background: The Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center provides care by utilizing large and integrated multidisciplinary teams to meet with each patient. To appropriately, compassionately, and consistently provide care for underserved populations (USP), specifically sexual and gender minorities (SGMs), training must be provided to all personnel who care for patients throughout the cancer center. Methods: Drawing on The National LGBTQ Cancer Network’s Welcoming Spaces training, we compiled materials aimed to clarify common terminology, identify various forms of discrimination, address social determinants of health, and foster a welcoming environment for all patients. Educational components included pre- and post-surveys, two grand rounds lectures, and three engaging self-paced e-learning modules. The pre- and post-surveys modified scales developed by Bidell and team (QUIRKS and LGBT-DOCSS). Questions used a Likert scale to evaluate with what frequency participants create a welcoming environment, use patients’ preferred names, challenge discriminatory behavior they observe such as derogatory jokes, and the extent to which personnel feel clinically prepared to meet the healthcare needs of people of a variety of identities. Results: From July-October 2024, 347 individuals began the training and 244 completed the entire training for a completion rate of 70%. 74% of pre-test respondents (PRE) and 94% of post-test respondents (POST) indicated they agree or strongly agree that they are aware of institutional challenges that may inhibit SGMs from using healthcare services. 52% PRE and 69% POST indicated they agree or strongly agree they create a welcoming environment. 79% PRE and 90% POST indicated if they witness people discriminating, they challenge the behavior. Finally, 68% PRE and 85% POST indicated they agree or strongly agree they feel clinically prepared to meet the healthcare needs of transgender patients. Conclusions: The training covered a breadth of issues related to providing culturally and clinically appropriate care for SGMs. Pre- and post-test comparison suggest change toward more culturally appropriate and compassionate care for SGMs with increased awareness of challenges to providing care to SGMs, actively creating a welcoming environment, addressing discrimination, and feeling clinically prepared to care for SGMs.