By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Conservatives: The Utah Health Exchange is Not a Model
    July 23, 2011
    Medical Malpractice Reform Losing Physician Support
    November 7, 2011
    Hospitals Aim to Apply Direct Payments of Care Delivery to Increase Resources
    August 28, 2012
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Health Care Workers Can Be More Sensitive To LGBTQ+ Patients
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > How Health Care Workers Can Be More Sensitive To LGBTQ+ Patients
Health care

How Health Care Workers Can Be More Sensitive To LGBTQ+ Patients

Kara Reynolds
Last updated: October 14, 2019 5:18 pm
Kara Reynolds
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE

  Members of the LGBTQ+ community face tremendous hurdles. They lack legal protections in employment and housing in many jurisdictions, and the Supreme Court is currently considering whether business owners can discriminate against them under the guise of “religious freedom.” They have enough issues — accessing health care shouldn’t be one of them. LGBTQ+ individuals face many barriers to care, among them the for-profit health care system in the U.S. However, they also face discrimination, both intentional and negligent, from providers. Medical professionals swear a solemn oath to “first, do no harm,” and this principle extends to treating members of the community with sensitivity.

Contents
Implicit Bias and Disparity of TreatmentLGBTQ+ Individuals Have Unique Needs That Change Throughout LifeLearning the Proper Terminology MattersStrategies for Promoting SensitivityExhibiting Sensitivity Improves Patient Outcomes for LGBTQ+ Community Members

Implicit Bias and Disparity of Treatment

Clinicians train to treat all patients equally. However, providers can’t check all implicit bias at the hospital door. Implicit bias leads medical professionals to unconsciously use body language or tone of voice to convey negative attitudes toward some patients. For example, imagine a severely obese patient with Type 2 diabetes arrives for his annual checkup snacking on a pastry. His doctor may not say, “Drop that cupcake, stat!” But the doctor’s chiding tone when he recommends the patient make dietary changes to manage the disease makes his exasperation clear. Many stereotypes about members of the LGBTQ+ community aren’t true. For example, many people consider individuals identifying as gay or bisexual as more sexually promiscuous than heterosexuals. In reality, people who identify anywhere along the sexual identity spectrum form committed monogamous relationships with the same frequency as straight, cisgender individuals. Implicit bias can create a disconnect between the patient and their provider. Imagine you’re a gay woman. You visit your doctor seeking information about sperm banks because you and your partner want to start a family. Your physician lectures you about sexually transmitted diseases before giving you a chance to speak. You’d probably feel insulted, making it difficult for you to fully trust your caregiver. People entrust their doctors with the most intimate details of their personal lives. To receive appropriate treatment, they must feel comfortable discussing matters like sexually transmitted diseases. When they mistrust their providers, LGBTQ+ community members hide specifics due to shame, which can lead to adverse health outcomes.

LGBTQ+ Individuals Have Unique Needs That Change Throughout Life

LGBTQ+ individuals have unique health care needs. For example, minority stress drives many to seek temporary relief in alcohol and drugs. As a result, 20 to 30% of gay and transgender people struggle with substance abuse. In comparison, rates fall to less than 10% among cisgender heterosexuals. Because health insurance coverage in the U.S. links to employment, many community members struggle to afford coverage. LGBTQ+ individuals lack legal protection from discrimination on the job in many areas. One in every five people with a different sexual or gender identity reports discrimination in promotion decisions. Many lose their jobs or quit in desperation. As a result, many members of the LGBTQ+ community start over or remain in entry-level positions. Such jobs often offer few, if any, benefits. And because this work pays little, many can’t afford individual coverage policies. They face a barrier to getting the mental and physical health care they need. Youth identifying as LGBTQ+ often face homelessness when they come out and their parents reject them. Fully 40% of homeless teenagers report their sexual or gender identity played a part in their plight. They face rape and assault living on the street. They wrestle with poor nutrition and battle the elements to survive. Older community members often face isolation and loneliness. They grapple with crushing poverty. Many times, their family members disown them. When their partner dies, they have no one to talk to. Because of earlier employment discrimination, they lack the financial resources to fund their retirement. If they must enter a nursing home, they face staff members denying their sexual or gender identity.

Learning the Proper Terminology Matters

Health care providers can improve sensitivity toward community members by learning the correct terminology. Words matter. Addressing individuals correctly serves as the first step in building trust. Learn and use these terms appropriately.

More Read

3 Ways to Keep Your Mental Health in Check
The Uses and the Health Benefits of the Organic CBD Oil
Healthcare Providers Explore New Steps to Minimize Delinquent Accounts
4 Little Known Health Concerns Facing the Elderly
10 Ways You Can Promote Good Community Healthcare
  • Gay: A person emotionally or romantically interested in others of the same gender.
  • Bisexual: A person interested in members of more than one sex, although not necessarily to the same degree.
  • Gender dysphoria: A state of extreme emotional distress created when someone’s physical gender doesn’t correspond with the one they identify as. This term often describes children and adolescents.
  • Sexual orientation: An inherent and immutable emotional or sexual attraction to other people.
  • Transgender: A person whose gender identity or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth.

Strategies for Promoting Sensitivity

When treating members of the LGBTQ+ community, health care providers can employ strategies to build a communication bridge. Here, too, sensitivity starts with language. If a patient says, “I’m gay,” use that word to describe their sexual orientation instead of saying “homosexual.” When taking health histories, avoid assumptions. If a patient indicates they’re married, don’t assume their spouse is a member of the opposite sex. Instead of asking a female patient, “Do you have a husband or boyfriend?” ask, “Are you in a committed relationship?” Let the patient guide the conversation. A simple, “What brings you in today?” gives you a starting point for the consultation. Remember, diseases don’t discriminate. Yes, a patient’s sexual or gender identity may contribute to their health concerns — or it may not. Anyone can suffer cardiovascular disease or stroke. Finally, do your best to hide implicit bias. If a patient named Joe walks in wearing high heels and a dress, smile and greet them the same way you would any other patient. Train your staff to check their responses. Quality care begins at the reception desk, and shocked reactions create mistrust even before you welcome the individual to the examination room.

Exhibiting Sensitivity Improves Patient Outcomes for LGBTQ+ Community Members

Members of the LGBTQ+ community face unique health challenges. Medical professionals should build their awareness of their needs and implement strategies to support these individuals. Only then will outcomes improve for all.

TAGGED:bedside mannerlgbtlgbtq communitylgbtq patientspatient care
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Kara Reynolds
Follow:
Kara Reynolds is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Momish Magazine, an inclusive parenting magazine filled with parenting hacks, advice, and more to keep your beautiful family thriving. As a mom and stepmom, Kara hopes to normalize blended families and wants her readers to know that every family is beautiful and messy just how they are. When she's not writing, Kara enjoys pilates and likes a little coffee with her cream. Find more from Kara on Twitter @MomishMagazine.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

Covid-19eHealthHealth careMedical Education

How Online Nursing Degrees Became Essential During the COVID-19 Crisis

June 30, 2020
Health carePublic HealthWellness

The Most Addictive Drugs Available With a Prescription

October 8, 2018
Health careTechnology

Data Mining And Healthcare: How Treatment Can Be Improved By Data Collection

February 20, 2020
Health careTechnology

How Can You Improve Employee Health With Safety Software?

April 27, 2020
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?