(052) COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE FOR LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING CHRONIC VULVOVAGINAL PAIN: ADAPTING A “MINI-DELPHI” METHOD

Abstract Introduction Chronic vulvovaginal pain (CVVP) is an umbrella term describing multiple chronic pain conditions in the vulva and/or vagina. These conditions often go undiagnosed or untreated due to stigma and lack of provider education. Qualitative studies suggest that the LGBTQ+ community faces additional barriers when discussing sexual health with a provider because of heteronormativity, discrimination, and medical mistrust (Rahman et al., 2022). Research also suggests that CVVP is common among LGBTQ+ people; Abern et al., (2022) suggest that 61.5% of transmasculine individuals experience dyspareunia. More research is needed to understand how these conditions affect the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, CVVP resources that center the community should be created and made accessible to LGBTQ+ people managing CVVP. Objective The purpose of this study is to develop a community resource guide for LGBTQ+ individuals with CVVP. To ensure that the information is accessible and accurately reflects the needs of the community, the guide will be reviewed by an expert panel, using the “mini-Delphi” method developed by Moors et al. (2023). This resource guide intends to provide individuals with information on CVVP and the available resources for seeking care. Methods After conducting a literature review to understand patient experiences with sexual and reproductive health in the LGBTQ+ community, the team drafted a community resource guide. The team established a partnership with a local pride center to help with recruitment and subsequent distribution of the guide. Using the “mini-Delphi” method, the team initiated recruitment of LGBTQ+ community members with CVVP, clinicians and researchers with experience with CVVP and/or the LGBTQ+ community, and LGBTQ+ advocates. The team is currently collecting survey data from the expert panel to finalize the guide. The panel will be surveyed in two rounds; the second round will review a new draft of the guide based on the first round. Following this final review, the guide will be finalized and distributed. Results The drafted community guide includes sections on defining CVVP, prevalence, treatments, healthcare seeking expectations, patient advocacy strategies, and community resources. Preliminary data based on the first round of recruitment shows general agreement with the drafted components. However, recruitment for the expert panel to review the draft was partially disrupted due to extreme weather events. Therefore, recruitment is still ongoing. Conclusions Frustration and diagnostic delay frequently characterize the healthcare seeking experience for CVVP. With the additional health disparities faced by the LGBTQ+ community, health education strategies are essential. Once the community resource guide is finalized by the expert panel, the research team expects it to provide valuable information related to CVVP causes, symptoms, treatment, healthcare seeking, and self-advocacy to combat the isolating experience LGBTQ+ individuals face when seeking CVVP treatment. Disclosure No.