Join the Thriving Together Study

Why we do this research

Although limited, emerging evidence suggests a higher cancer burden for LGBTQ+ (an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, and identities not encompassed here) people. Reasons for the lack of evidence include smaller sample sizes and incomplete data about characteristics such as gender and sexual orientation.

In the first phase of this research, participants shared their experiences navigating health care and explored possible strategies that would reduce barriers and improve access to care. Following this, we conducted additional interviews to learn about their preferences for reporting demographic information in health care and research settings. This is important because collecting data in a way that all people find clear and relevant can improve accuracy and increase participant engagement, allowing us to establish a clearer picture of health disparities and what can be done to address them.

In the Thriving Together study, we strive to create safe spaces for everyone to participate in research and aim to identify strategies that will improve access to cancer screening, care, and supportive services.

Highlights

Community Engagement

Participants, community partners, and Community Advisory Board members share their stories, provide recommendations, and interpret results. Their contributions guide decisions about the next steps for the project, ensuring that the community's voice is central to our efforts.

Access

This research is conducted remotely and online to reduce barriers to participation. We include people of all genders and sexual orientations to ensure that our results and recommendation are relevant and clear for all.

Study Timeline

Qualitative data collection concluded in 2024. We will continue to gather data to assess barriers to care and services, and work with our community advisors to identify the next steps.

Funding

This study was sponsored by the NIH/National Cancer Institute and a Faculty Research Support Initiative from the College of Public Health and Human Sciences (now College of Health).

Research Team

Principal Investigators

• Jessica Gorman, PhD, MPH, Oregon State University
• Jackilen Shannon, PhD, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Co-Investigators

• Jonathan Garcia, PhD, Oregon State University
• Student Investigator: Steph Corey, MPH, Oregon State University

Community Advisory Board members and community partners in Oregon