Identifying and breaking barriers: Addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers

Background: Significant disparities exist in the care of patients with gynecologic malignancies. Higher incidences of gynecologic malignancies among underrepresented subpopulations (eg, racial, ethnic, and/or LGBTQAI+) and lack of representative enrollment within clinical trials have highlighted the...

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Main Authors: Bhavana Pothuri, Michele Muir, Jean Hurteau, John Farley, Michelle D.S. Lightfoot, Summer Dewdney, Tara Castellano, John K. Chan, Sharad Ghamande, Al Asante-Facey, Marina Stasenko, B.J. Rimel, Electra D. Paskett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Gynecologic Oncology Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578925001249
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author Bhavana Pothuri
Michele Muir
Jean Hurteau
John Farley
Michelle D.S. Lightfoot
Summer Dewdney
Tara Castellano
John K. Chan
Sharad Ghamande
Al Asante-Facey
Marina Stasenko
B.J. Rimel
Electra D. Paskett
author_facet Bhavana Pothuri
Michele Muir
Jean Hurteau
John Farley
Michelle D.S. Lightfoot
Summer Dewdney
Tara Castellano
John K. Chan
Sharad Ghamande
Al Asante-Facey
Marina Stasenko
B.J. Rimel
Electra D. Paskett
author_sort Bhavana Pothuri
collection DOAJ
description Background: Significant disparities exist in the care of patients with gynecologic malignancies. Higher incidences of gynecologic malignancies among underrepresented subpopulations (eg, racial, ethnic, and/or LGBTQAI+) and lack of representative enrollment within clinical trials have highlighted the need to improve healthcare equity. We aimed to identify barriers to equitable health care and clinical trial participation for specific diverse populations of patients with gynecologic malignancies and to identify potential solutions for overcoming these barriers. Methods: A series of 4 live and 3 asynchronous advisory boards facilitated by GSK was conducted between January 2023 and July 2024; live advisory boards were population specific. Gynecologic oncologists, health researchers, advanced practice providers, patients, and patient advocacy group representatives who worked with and/or were themselves members of the focus population participated. Insights were compiled and analyzed to identify barriers and potential solutions across and within populations. Results: Common barriers to equitable health care across all populations included cost, transportation, level of health literacy, and provider biases; 11 population-specific barriers were noted, with LGBTQAI+ patients described as facing the most barriers. Patient navigator involvement was identified as a feasible and highly impactful solution for breaking multiple barriers across various diverse populations. Conclusions: Most barriers to equitable health care were population specific, affirming the need for continued consultation and discussions with members of communities and with individuals to address specific barriers and enact effective solutions. Engagement of patient navigators was identified as an important way to improve disparities within the care of gynecologic malignancies across all underrepresented patients.
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spelling doaj-art-eca7cc7678914ed4bd8eea5b9c2e96972025-08-21T04:17:09ZengElsevierGynecologic Oncology Reports2352-57892025-08-016010179910.1016/j.gore.2025.101799Identifying and breaking barriers: Addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancersBhavana Pothuri0Michele Muir1Jean Hurteau2John Farley3Michelle D.S. Lightfoot4Summer Dewdney5Tara Castellano6John K. Chan7Sharad Ghamande8Al Asante-Facey9Marina Stasenko10B.J. Rimel11Electra D. Paskett12Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA; Corresponding author at: Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone, 240 E 38th St, Fl 20, New York, NY 10016, USA.GSK, Collegeville, PA, USAGSK, Collegeville, PA, USADignity Health Cancer Institute, St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USAPerlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USARush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USALSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USASutter Health, San Francisco, CA, USAGeorgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USAMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USAPerlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USACedars-Sinai Medical Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USADivision of Cancer Prevention and Control, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USABackground: Significant disparities exist in the care of patients with gynecologic malignancies. Higher incidences of gynecologic malignancies among underrepresented subpopulations (eg, racial, ethnic, and/or LGBTQAI+) and lack of representative enrollment within clinical trials have highlighted the need to improve healthcare equity. We aimed to identify barriers to equitable health care and clinical trial participation for specific diverse populations of patients with gynecologic malignancies and to identify potential solutions for overcoming these barriers. Methods: A series of 4 live and 3 asynchronous advisory boards facilitated by GSK was conducted between January 2023 and July 2024; live advisory boards were population specific. Gynecologic oncologists, health researchers, advanced practice providers, patients, and patient advocacy group representatives who worked with and/or were themselves members of the focus population participated. Insights were compiled and analyzed to identify barriers and potential solutions across and within populations. Results: Common barriers to equitable health care across all populations included cost, transportation, level of health literacy, and provider biases; 11 population-specific barriers were noted, with LGBTQAI+ patients described as facing the most barriers. Patient navigator involvement was identified as a feasible and highly impactful solution for breaking multiple barriers across various diverse populations. Conclusions: Most barriers to equitable health care were population specific, affirming the need for continued consultation and discussions with members of communities and with individuals to address specific barriers and enact effective solutions. Engagement of patient navigators was identified as an important way to improve disparities within the care of gynecologic malignancies across all underrepresented patients.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578925001249Gynecologic malignancyHealthcare disparityPatient navigatorLGBTQAI+
spellingShingle Bhavana Pothuri
Michele Muir
Jean Hurteau
John Farley
Michelle D.S. Lightfoot
Summer Dewdney
Tara Castellano
John K. Chan
Sharad Ghamande
Al Asante-Facey
Marina Stasenko
B.J. Rimel
Electra D. Paskett
Identifying and breaking barriers: Addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers
Gynecologic Oncology Reports
Gynecologic malignancy
Healthcare disparity
Patient navigator
LGBTQAI+
title Identifying and breaking barriers: Addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers
title_full Identifying and breaking barriers: Addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers
title_fullStr Identifying and breaking barriers: Addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers
title_full_unstemmed Identifying and breaking barriers: Addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers
title_short Identifying and breaking barriers: Addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers
title_sort identifying and breaking barriers addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers
topic Gynecologic malignancy
Healthcare disparity
Patient navigator
LGBTQAI+
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578925001249
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