In the medical field, acceptance of all patients should be standard practice. Recently, however, research published under the title "Breaking Barriers and Fostering Trust: Insights into LGBTQ+ Experiences in Healthcare" helped to illuminate the problems that the LGBTQ+ population has been facing in this area.
Sponsored by Healthgrades, a leading online resource for information about physicians and hospitals, and LGBTQIA+ health equity resource, Outcare Health, the joint study aimed at providing a snapshot of the challenges LGBTQ+ people face compared to cisgender, heterosexual people.
The study used a sample of 952 US adults who identified as LGBTQ+ and 1,049 who identified as cisgender or heterosexual. Participants were selected to mirror the demographics of the United States in terms of age, gender, race/ethnicity, and geographic location.
Among the srudy's findings:
• Health checks are less common among members of the LGBTQ+ community in the past year.
• For numerous reasons, including trauma and mental illness, they are also more likely to forego medical attention.
• It's concerning that fewer than half of the LGBTQ+ participants were content with their present doctor.
Numerous people in the LGBTQ+ community have also voiced concerns about their treatment at medical facilities.
• 29% said they didn't feel their doctor took them seriously.
• 15% had their symptoms dismissed as mental health issues.
• 10% experienced discrimination because of their health.
• LGBTQ+ participants reported significantly lower levels of trust in medical practitioners and organizations compared to cisgender, heterosexual participants.
Several interventions are proposed by the study:
• Medical staff should be educated and trained on LGBTQ+ issues.
• Marketers may make a significant impact by emphasizing the need of utilizing inclusive language and highlighting providers who are affirming of the LGBTQ+ community.
The results of this study highlight the critical nature of healthcare system reforms. The identified discrepancies have the potential to adversely affect the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals over the long run. By filling in these spaces, we can create a healthcare system that welcomes and cares for all people.
The "Breaking Barriers and Fostering Trust" report is a vital reminder of how far we still need to go to provide LGBTQ+ people with access to quality healthcare. And the problem is far more acute in States such as Florida which have recently passed laws allowing doctors to refuse medical care to LGBTQ+ patients, something that can only worsen the quality of medical care they receive. Whether such laws are passed in other states remains to be seen.
Moving forward, it is critical to place a premium on acceptance and tolerance, treating everyone with the respect they deserve regardless of who they are.
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