Cancer care in sexual minority women: Expanding research perspectives between England and Brazil about LGBT+ care in the context of serious illness

• Grant number: 23/09356-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: February 17, 2024
• End date: March 16, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Manoel Antônio dos Santos
• Grantee: Carolina de Souza
• Supervisor: Katherine Bristowe
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: King's College London, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/09464-3 - Therapeutic itinerary of lesbian women with Gynecological Cancer from a gender perspective, BP.DR

Abstract

This Research Internship Abroad (BEPE) is part of the doctoral study, which aims to understand the experiences of lesbian/bisexual women diagnosed with gynecological/breast cancer and lesbian/bisexual women without a cancer diagnosis in their therapeutic itineraries of seeking healthcare and health services. The audio recorded interviews were transcribed and are being analyzed through the reflexive thematic analysis approach. The thematic is relevant because most woman is thought of as heterosexual in health services and sexual orientation is not valued as a relevant dimension of health care. It was not found interdisciplinary research center in Brazil with international leadership in theoretical studies and the development of systematic interventions aimed specifically at LGBT+ health and patient-professional communication in the context of serious illness. The Cicely Saunders Institute is an interdisciplinary institute of King's College London, England, dedicated to rehabilitation and palliative care research to ease the suffering of vulnerable people affected by life-limiting illnesses. This project aims to: (1) enable the participation in research and learning of new methodological designs in health care for LGBT+ people; (2) discuss the data obtained in Brazil with the London team, internationally recognized for its expertise in the field; (3) compare the data obtained in Brazil with UK data provided by the overseas supervisor. The student will remain in Cicely Saunders Institute for one month for theoretical study, observation, lectures and seminars. The data of the research internship abroad will be collected through field notes and the data of the interviews were collected through a semi-structured interview script. The Brazilian interviews happened between September 2021 to February 2023 and the British interviews occurred between November 2018 and November 2019. Data will be organized and analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis approach. At least one article and a scientific report will be produced. The internship will improve the doctoral study in Brazil, expand partnerships and share knowledge among Brazil and England.