Title : Reducing LGBTQ healthcare inequities: A qi project on affirmation training
Abstract:
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals make up a diverse community with a shared need for culturally competent healthcare. As healthcare providers we must recognize and respond to the specific challenges they face. LGBTQ members live in a state of hypervigilance due to carrying a lifetime of stigma, prejudice, and shame others have projected onto them: a burden known as minority stress. Many studies outline LGBTQ health disparities and the impact healthcare teams play in reducing unwelcoming environments for LGBTQ patients. Poor healthcare team knowledge of, negative behavior towards, and nominal competence in caring for the LGBTQ community causes lack of affirming healthcare spaces, decreased health seeking, and increased health disparities. The purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project is to develop, implement, and evaluate the impact LGBTQ affirmation training has on healthcare team knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Feasibility will be assessed based on newly implemented LGBTQ specific practice changes and healthcare team feedback. The four project aims are: (1) measure improvement in healthcare team knowledge, (2) measure improvement in healthcare team attitude, (3) measure improvement in healthcare team behaviors, and (4) measure feasibility. The training will be delivered through online modules that are free to use, reproducible, and accessible to anyone. The topics in the modules are supported by the American Nurses Association and American Academy of Family Physicians, address the identified problem, purpose, and aims of the project, and align with the setting values and mission. The project will be implemented Fall 2022 in a free standing non-profit primary care clinic in a suburban environment. Successful implementation of this QI project will increase access to care for the LGBTQ community and improve the quality of care delivered.
