Climate,knowledge, comfort related to LGBTQ+ health and healthcare

AimConduct a college level assessment of the perspective of staff, faculty and students on the climate, educational adequacy, and understanding on LGBTQ+ health and healthcare.BackgroundLGBTQ+ individuals face health disparities and discrimination. Inadequate educational preparation allows students to enter their professions with inadequate knowledge and biases.DesignCross-sectional study of faculty, staff, students (N = 343) in a college of health and human services college in the Midwest.MethodsData were gathered via anonymous internet surveys focused on LGBTQ+ climate, knowledge, and comfort. Descriptive statistics and chi square were used for analysis.ResultsWitnessing or experiencing LGBTQ+ harassment was more common in the community (33%, n = 115) than the university campus (5.6%), classrooms (2.9%, n = 10), clinical areas (0.3%, n = 1). While the majority (81.4-100%) correctly answered knowledge-based health questions regarding the LGBTQ+ population, 21% noted that they experienced more discomfort discussing sexual health with LGBTQ+ patients compared to non-LGBTQ+ patients.