Associations between non-discrimination and training policies and physicians' attitudes and knowledge about sexual and gender minority patients: a comparison of physicians from two hospitals.

Jennifer M Jabson,Benjamin Doty,Jason W Mitchell

doi:10.1186/s12889-016-2927-y

Abstract

BackgroundSome physicians lack knowledge and awareness about health issues specific to sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals. To help improve this, hospitals have implemented policies that mandate non-discrimination and training to promote sexual and gender minority health. There is limited evidence about how such policies relate to physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and gender and sexual minority affirmative practices.MethodA random sample of 1000 physicians was recruited from a complete list of physicians affiliated with one of two university Hospitals located in Tennessee and 180 physicians completed the survey concerning attitudes and knowledge about SGM individuals. Physicians were affiliated with either Hospital A that had not implemented policies for non-discrimination and training, or Hospital B that did.ResultsPhysicians held different attitudes about SGM patients than non-patients. Physicians affiliated with Hospital A held more negative attitudes about SGM individuals who were non-patients than physicians affiliated with Hospital B. There were no differences between the two hospitals in physicians’ attitudes and knowledge about SGM patients.ConclusionPolicies that mandate non-discrimination and training as they currently exist may not improve physicians’ attitudes and knowledge about SGM individuals. Additional research is needed to understand how these policies and trainings relate to physicians’ SGM affirmative practices.

Highlights

Some physicians lack knowledge and awareness about health issues specific to sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals
One-hundred percent of the physicians affiliated with Hospital B reported awareness of SGM patients in their practices
The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) aims to reduce discrimination and improve the healthcare milieu for the purpose of reducing health disparities experienced by gender and sexual minorities and improving quality of their healthcare

Summary

Introduction

Some physicians lack knowledge and awareness about health issues specific to sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals. Hospitals have implemented policies that mandate non-discrimination and training to promote sexual and gender minority health. There is limited evidence about how such policies relate to physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and gender and sexual minority affirmative practices. Sexual (gay, lesbian, bisexual) and gender (i.e., transgender) minority (SGM) individuals report significant dissatisfaction with healthcare, interactions with providers, and have more unmet needs than their heterosexual counterparts. Sexual minority women perceive that physicians do not spend enough time with them compared to heterosexual women [4]. Sexual minority men report less satisfaction with healthcare than heterosexual men [4]. As noted in two studies, 44–63 % of physicians reported being unaware of having sexual minority

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