Primary care of LGBTQ+ patients

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) experience significant health care disparities, including: high risk sexual behavior, cardiovascular disease, and mental health disorders. These healthcare disparities may be partially explained by the infrequency LGBTQ+ individuals receive preventative health care. PURPOSE: To determine if gender or sexual identity affects the frequency of annual wellness exams for members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as identification of perceived barriers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with IRB exempt status approval utilized a unique Qualtrics survey with Likert scale, open-ended and closed-ended question designs. Descriptive and chi-square analysis was performed to assess correlations between gender or sexual identity and frequency of annual wellness visits. RESULTS: No correlation was found between gender or sexual identity and frequency of wellness visits. Two significant barriers emerged from the qualitative analysis, including: lack of insurance/financial burden and absence of health concerns. CONCLUSION: Although there was no statistical significance between gender or sexual identity and frequency of wellness visits, some participants reported they did not seek out medical care because they were unable to find a provider with whom they felt comfortable. There are likely other factors that account for the well-established disparity in healthcare outcomes independent of primary care services.