Different groups of individuals with MS may experience potential barriers to care access in different ways. In a survey-based study, researchers assessed how sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience MS care in Northern California.
The potential complications of multiple sclerosis (MS) call for a targeted, individualized treatment regimen for many individuals. However, some may face barriers to getting the right care due to structural disparities and discrimination. One such group includes sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals. Few studies have assessed the impact of gender identity on perceived barriers to MS treatment.
An exploratory survey was conducted and the results of the survey analysis were published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Survey investigators recruited individuals with MS who self-identified as SGM through the UCSF MS Center and a National MS Society web post. Gender identities included men, women, genderqueer, transgender, pansexual/queer, questioning, and “other”. Survey participants were asked to answer a 45-minute web-based survey. Questions in the survey involved relationship status, social support, and participation in MS and SGM communities, among other topics.
Results showed that satisfaction with MS care was high, with almost 80% of survey participants stating that they were somewhat or extremely satisfied with care. In addition, 87.5% of survey participants reported that they did not feel that their SGM identities affected their care. Interestingly, most survey participants stated that their MS status was unlikely to affect their participation in the SGM community.
This exploratory survey helps open the doors for similar studies in the future as the results were based on a small sample living in Northern California. Addressing potential barriers to care in SGM individuals is necessary to ensure all individuals with MS are receiving appropriate care.
Source:
Anderson, A., Dierkhising, J., Rush, G., Carleton, M., Rosendale, N., & Bove, R. (2021). Experiences of sexual and gender minority people living with multiple sclerosis in Northern California: An exploratory study. Mult Scler Relat Disord, 55, 103214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.103214
