TRAINING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS DEALING WITH LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND IDENTIFYING DIFFERENT BIASES IN CARE

OmniPathways using TERC FISH testing on anal pap smears is a sensitive test that help detect premalignant lesions and provides a useful tool in early detection of anal cancer. The finding of TERC gene abnormality in normal, atypical, and low-grade dysplasia indicates the need for closer follow up for these patients. Adding FISH testing in these cases would enhance the diagnostic potential for the samples and can lead to significant improvement in anal cancer screening potentially resulting in early detection of premalignant lesions and subsequent reduction in anal cancer incidents. This diagnostic approach can help with overcoming a problem that the LGBTQ community, and particularly homosexual men face in the form of implicit and explicit attitudes by health care providers (Morris et al BMC Medic Education 2019 and Sabin et al American Journal of Public Health 2015). In many reports, patients hesitate to seek care for fear of being judged. This is a form of bias that creates barriers to healthcare access. Training of health professionals can help change LGBTQ-related bias. Strategies for assessing and mitigating implicit bias against LGBTQ patients and recommendation for medical, nursing, and dental school curricula are presented by Morris et al.