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

Authors

Bhavana Pothuri, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA.
Michele Muir, GSK, Collegeville, PA, USA.
Jean Hurteau, GSK, Collegeville, PA, USA.
John Farley, Dignity Health Cancer Institute, St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Michelle D. Lightfoot, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA.
Summer Dewdney, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Tara Castellano, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
John K. Chan, Sutter Health, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Sharad Ghamande, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
Al Asante-Facey, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Marina Stasenko, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA.
B J. Rimel, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Electra D. Paskett, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2025

Publication Title

Gynecologic oncology reports

Abstract

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.

First Page

101799

PubMed ID

40687922

Volume

60

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Pothuri, Bhavana; Muir, Michele; Hurteau, Jean; Farley, John; Lightfoot, Michelle D.; Dewdney, Summer; Castellano, Tara; Chan, John K.; Ghamande, Sharad; Asante-Facey, Al; Stasenko, Marina; Rimel, B J.; and Paskett, Electra D., "Identifying and breaking barriers: Addressing disparities in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers" (2025). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 3918.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/3918
10.1016/j.gore.2025.101799