ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess obstetrician-gynecologist (Ob/Gyn) resident experiences with and preferences for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) healthcare training. METHODS: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was deployed to residents from accredited Illinois Ob/Gyn training programs. The survey included 32 questions on resident demographics, LGBTQ training, and self-perceived preparedness in providing LGBTQ patient care. RESULTS: Of 257 eligible Ob/Gyn residents, 105 (41%) responded. Fifty percent of residents felt unprepared to care for lesbian or bisexual patients and 76% felt unprepared to care for transgender patients. Feeling prepared to provide care for lesbian or bisexual patients was associated with attending a university-based program, working in a hospital without religious affiliation, and year of training. Feeling prepared to provide healthcare for transgender patients correlated with grand rounds focused on LGBTQ health and supervised clinical involvement. Regarding training, 62% and 63% of participants stated their programs dedicate 1-5 h per year to lesbian/bisexual healthcare and transgender healthcare training, respectively. Concurrently, 92% desired more education on how to provide healthcare to LGBTQ patients. Perceived barriers to receiving training in LGBTQ healthcare included curricular crowding (85%) and lack of experienced faculty (91%). CONCLUSION: Our assessment indicates Illinois Ob/Gyn residents feel inadequately prepared to address healthcare needs of LGBTQ patients. Although barriers exist, residents desire more education and training in providing healthcare to the LGBTQ community. Future work is needed to address this gap through curricular development to ensure that Ob/Gyn residency graduates are prepared care for LGBTQ patients.
ABSTRACT
Asian American medical students (AAMSs) face significant bias in the medical learning environment and are more likely than White students to perceive their school climate negatively. Little is known about the factors that contribute to AAMSs' negative experiences. This perspective aims to describe AAMSs' experiences with diversity and inclusion efforts using survey data from a midwest regional conference, Asians in Medicine: A Conference on Advocacy and Allyship. AAMS respondents reported feeling excluded from diversity and inclusion efforts and conference participants advocated for institutional culture and climate assessments stratified by race and disaggregated into Asian subgroups.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Many youth engage in risky sexual behaviors that are associated with adverse sexual health outcomes. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning/queer (LGBTQ) youth are disproportionately affected. Comprehensive sex education is instrumental to minimize these outcomes; however, each state varies in the topics taught. METHODS: This paper is a comprehensive review of all 50 states and the District of Columbia's policies, including laws and education standards, for LGBTQ inclusive material in school-based sex education for youth in K-12. RESULTS: Overall, 48 states have policies that mandate sex education in the public schools. This review describes policy differences relevant to students who identify as LGBTQ, by comparing required topics, parental/guardian permission, LGBTQ inclusion, and normative language requirements. CONCUSIONS: There is a lack of uniformity and presence of discrimination in school-based sex education policies in the United States, particularly related to LGBTQ topics. Therefore, young people, especially LGBTQ students, face geographical barriers to accessing sexual health information and schools are limited in implementing curriculum essential for students to optimize sexual health outcomes. State policymakers, school administrators, child health advocates, and parents should work to eliminate barriers for comprehensive sex education.
