Improving Dermatologic Care for Sexual and Gender Minority Patients Through Routine Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Collection

The document advocates for the routine collection of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data in dermatology settings to improve care for sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients, who face unique health disparities. It highlights that knowledge of a patient's SGM status can guide clinical decisions and improve the provision of culturally sensitive care. The authors discuss the benefits of SOGI data collection in three areas: guiding clinical care by understanding specific health risks and prevention guidelines for SGM patients, improving patient-provider interactions, and facilitating research. They note that standardized measures for SOGI data collection exist and that policy changes will soon make this data collection more widespread. The document also provides examples of successful SOGI data implementation in clinical settings and emphasizes the importance of culturally sensitive care to address the dermatologic needs of SGM patients.