Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37353720›Full record

ArticleNeurology and therapy2023

Podcast on the Challenges and Recommendations to Address Unmet Needs in MS for LGBTQ+ Populations in the United States.

William L Conte, Mark Cascione, Amy B Sullivan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurology and therapy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Sex and gender-related differences in neurological diseases: current challenges and recommendations for clinical practice.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

William L ConteComprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, Methodist Hospitals, 200 E 89Th Avenue, Merrillville, IN, 46410, USA. billy.conte@gmail.com.
Mark CascioneFirst Choice Neurology/South Tampa Multiple Sclerosis Center, 2919 Swann Avenue, Suite 401, Tampa, FL, 33609, USA.
Amy B SullivanMellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue/U10, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
Cleveland Clinic · USMethodist Hospital · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In general, individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, plus other identities (LGBTQ+) living with multiple sclerosis (MS) have less favorable healthcare experiences and poorer overall health than cisgendered heterosexual individuals. They may experience further challenges in addition to managing their MS, including psychological or emotional problems, and an increased risk of comorbid diseases and substance abuse. Transgender individuals specifically face additional unique challenges, including high rates of mental health distress and effects from long-term exogenous hormone use and gender affirmation surgery. These findings highlight disparities in both quality of care and health outcomes of LGBTQ+ individuals. Unmet needs and drivers of these disparities relate to a lack of inclusivity in healthcare environments, poor communication between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and LGBTQ+ patients, inadequate HCP knowledge of LGBTQ+ health issues, and gaps in research into the impact of sexual orientation and gender identity in MS. Although data are limited, recommendations to improve the experience and care of LGBTQ+ individuals with MS include increasing HCP awareness of the challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face and provision of inclusive care, with the overarching goal for HCPs to be allies to the LGBTQ+ community. Improvements may be achieved through diversity and cultural awareness training of HCPs on sexual orientation and gender identity, and ensuring a friendly, open, and supportive healthcare environment. Use of sensitive and gender-neutral language by HCPs, representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in patient materials, and access to LGBTQ+ MS support groups are also recommended. HCPs should aim to integrate discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity and sexual and mental health into routine assessments and collaborate with other HCPs as needed. By addressing the challenges and unmet needs of LGBTQ+ individuals with MS, this should help resolve disparities in their quality of care and improve their overall health.

Indexed as

Access to careLGBTQ+Multiple sclerosisPatient–provider communication

Identifiers

PMID37353720
PMCPMC10444714
OpenAlexW4381838971

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.