GLBT Cultural Competence
Cultural competence, at the provider level and at the institutional level, is increasingly becoming a key goal of education on GLBT health issues. A physician’s lack of cultural competence has been shown to negatively affect not only physician-patient interaction and thus care-giving, but also the patient’s care seeking behavior.
The Importance of Language
Many such issues can be alleviated with training on the importance of language, and choosing words carefully during clinical encounters. Transgender people find that physicians confuse gender identity with biologic sex or sexual orientation. For example, there are reports of physicians referring to patients as "he" although the patient is in fact a transgender MTF (male to female) and prefers to identify as "she."
Similar language issues are also faced by gay men, lesbians and bisexuals. It is important for physicians to be aware of this during interactions with patients. For example, instead of asking about the patient’s "spouse" and assuming heterosexuality, the word "partner" should be substituted. The use of this more affirming language acknowledges the existence of the GLBT population, and this acknowledgement is the first step to culturally competent care.
GLBT Cultural Competence and Care-Seeking Behavior
A consumer survey showed that 31%-89% of healthcare professionals displayed negative reactions to the revelation that patients were gay or lesbian (Women & Health, 2003). As a consequence of such negative physician-patient interactions, GLBT patients often avoid even routine medical visits, further jeopardizing their health. In addition, homophobia and the lack of sensitivity and knowledge about the unique health issues of GLBT patients can lead to inadequate care resulting in clinicians failing to screen, diagnose, and properly treat medical problems.
Resources:
- A Resource for Healthcare Providers: Creating a Welcoming Space for LGBT Patients [Windows Media Player]
- Guidelines for Care of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Patients, GLMA 2006 [PDF] [www.glma.org]
- GLBT-Inclusive Intake Forms
- Community Standards of Practice for Provision of Quality Health Care Services for GLBT Clients, GLBT Health Access Project 1999 [PDF] [glbthealth.org]
- Culturally Competent Care for GLBT People: Recommendations for health care providers, Seattle & King County Public Health [www.metrokc.gov]
- AMA Statement on Cultural Competence and GLBT Patient Care [www.ama-assn.org]
