Healthcare experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual college students: recommendations for the clinical nurse specialist.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the healthcare experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual college students (ages 18-24 years) in the local college community. A specific aim of the study was to describe the factors (eg, healthcare system, patient, provider, clinical encounter) that influence this experience. This qualitative descriptive study used a community-based participatory research approach. This study was conducted at a local college consortium in New England that consisted of 13 private and public colleges and universities. A total of 19 college students who self-identified as lesbian (n = 7), gay (n = 7), and female bisexual (n = 4) were included. The mean (SD) age of the sample was 20.7 (1.2) years (range, 19-24 years), and the mean (SD) number of completed college years was 2.4 (1.2) (range, 1-5). Three online synchronous focus groups were conducted. Qualitative content analysis revealed 1 overarching theme (not all the same), 1 main theme (comfort during the clinical encounter), and 3 subthemes (personalizing the clinical encounter, deciding to disclose and social stigma, and seeking support of self-identified sexual orientation). Participants provided recommendations that are helpful to clinical nurse specialists to promote positive clinical encounters. Implications for clinical nurse specialist practice and recommendations for further research are addressed.