Sexual and gender minority health-related content in geriatric fellowships.
Despite a growing number of older lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) adults in the United States, education on care for this vulnerable population has historically been inadequate across all levels of training. This research assessed the extent of LGBTQ education in geriatric medicine fellowship curricula across the United States.
We designed a survey to anonymously collect information from geriatric medicine fellowship programs on LGBTQ curricular content. Eligible participants included all 160 fellowship directors on record with the American Geriatrics Society. The survey addressed demographics of the fellowship program, current state of inclusion of LGBTQ content in didactic curricula and in clinical settings, and other available training opportunities.
Out of those contacted, 80 (50%) completed the survey. Of the programs surveyed, 60 (75%) were housed in internal medicine, 19 (24%) were in family medicine, and one was in their own department. Forty-seven fellowships (59%) reported some formal didactic session (e.g., lecture or case based), with the majority of these programs (72%) featuring 1-2 h of formal instruction. Forty-five programs (56%) reported offering no formal clinical experiences. There was less than 50% coverage for all surveyed topics in the required curriculum (range 46% for discrimination to 9% for gender affirming care). Time and lack of expertise were cited as the main barriers to content inclusion.
Curricular content regarding care for LGBTQ older adults is inadequate in geriatric medicine fellowships. Faculty development of current educators and providing standardized guidelines and curricula are steps toward addressing this deficit.
Burton CH
,van Zuilen MH
,Primbas A
,Young ME
,Swartz K
,Colburn J
,Kumar C
,Klomhaus A
,Chippendale R
,Streed CG Jr
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Analysis of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Topics Within Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Curricular Content in Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Programs in the United States and Canada-A Prospective Survey.
Transgender and gender-diverse individuals experience higher burdens of health disparities compared to their cisgender counterparts. Contributing factors include decreased access and denial of care, experiences and fear of medical violence, and increasing legislative barriers. These patients often report having to educate healthcare professionals due to lack of expertise of transgender and gender-diverse issues within the medical community, with training deficits observed at all levels of medical training.
We surveyed pediatric anesthesiology fellowship directors in the United States and Canada with an aim to describe the current state of transgender and gender-diverse topics within diversity, equity, and inclusion curricular content across pediatric anesthesiology fellowship training programs.
A 25-question descriptive, cross-sectional, electronic survey was created and distributed to all pediatric anesthesiology fellowship program directors in the United States and Canada investigating the inclusion of transgender and gender-diverse topics within diversity, equity, and inclusion curriculum (if present) for pediatric anesthesiology fellows.
A total of 33 responses were collected from 69 total invited programs. Diversity, equity, and inclusion curricula were present in 93.5% (29/31) of fellowship programs but only 29% (9/31) of programs included content specific to transgender and gender-diverse populations. Just 17% (5/29) of program directors thought their curriculum adequately prepared their graduates to care for transgender and gender-diverse patients. However, 69% (20/29) expressed a desire to see more educational content included in the future. Lack of knowledgeable faculty educators and time were the most chosen perceived barriers to inclusion.
To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate pediatric anesthesiology fellowship curricula for inclusion of transgender and gender-diverse topics within diversity, equity, and inclusion curriculum. As the population of known transgender and gender-diverse youth increases, all pediatric anesthesiologists must be equipped to treat this population with appropriate clinical and cultural sensitivity. Future endeavors must include robust sexual orientation and gender identity data collection, access to educational materials from content experts, recruitment and empowerment of LGBTQ+ anesthesiologists, and increased dedicated time toward diversity, equity, and inclusion education, specifically in regard to the transgender and gender-diverse population.
Lack of physician education on the care of transgender and gender-diverse patients is one of several factors contributing to the health disparities seen in this population; training deficits in the care of transgender and gender-diverse patients have been observed in all levels of medical training. Our data show a critical deficiency of transgender and gender-diverse topics within diversity, equity, and inclusion curricular content in pediatric anesthesiology fellowships in the United States and Canada and identify potential barriers to the inclusion of such content.
Krueger ME
,Roque RA
,Reece-Nguyen TL
,MacCormick H
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A National Survey to Assess LGBTQ+ Curricular Needs in Pediatrics Residency Programs.
Despite incremental increases in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) health education, there are no uniform training requirements in graduate medical education and the extent to which pediatrics residency programs incorporate LGBTQ+ curricula remains unknown. We aimed to assess the current state of LGBTQ+ health education in pediatrics residency programs.
We surveyed all 202 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited categorical pediatrics program directors (PDs) in the United States. PDs were contacted via the Association for Pediatrics Program Directors (APPD) listserv with a link to an anonymous electronic survey.
We had a 53.4% response rate (107/202) with representation from all regions, sizes, and settings. Only 7.5% of programs have robust LGBTQ+ curricula, but many (71%) offer some sessions. About half (54.2%) believe their residents are not at all or somewhat prepared to care for LGBTQ+ patients after training. Many PDs are not at all or somewhat confident their residents learn about gender affirming care (49.5%) or are aware of community resources for LGBTQ+ youth (54.2%). In 91% of programs, 0-25% of faculty educate trainees about LGBTQ+ health. The majority (74.8%) of PDs are very or moderately likely to implement a standardized LGBTQ+ health curriculum. The most prominent barriers were inadequate time (55.1%) and lack of faculty training (51.4%).
Many pediatrics programs have implemented some LGBTQ+ health education; however, PDs lack confidence in residents' abilities to independently care for LGBTQ+ youth after training. An accessible and standardized curriculum is not only needed but desired by programs.
Roth LT
,Carpenter P
,Schwartz A
,Lurie B
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Impact of a Virtual Care Navigation Service on Member-Reported Outcomes Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Populations: Case Study.
While the significance of care navigation in facilitating access to health care within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other (LGBTQ+) communities has been acknowledged, there is limited research examining how care navigation influences an individual's ability to understand and access the care they need in real-world settings. By analyzing private sector data, we can bridge the gap between theoretical research findings and practical applications, ultimately informing both business strategies and public policy with evidence grounded in real-world efficacy.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of specialized virtual care navigation services on LGBTQ+ individuals' ability to comprehend and access necessary care within a national cohort of commercially insured members.
This case study is based on the experience of commercially insured members, aged 18 or older, who used the LGBTQ+ Health Care Navigation (LGBTQ+ Navigation) service by Included Health between January 26 and July 31, 2023. Care coordinators assisted members by connecting them with vetted identity-affirming in-network providers, helping them navigate and understand their LGBTQ+ health benefits, and providing education and advocacy for clinical and nonclinical needs. We examined the impact of navigation on 5 member-reported outcomes. In addition to reporting the proportion who agreed or strongly agreed, we calculated an impact score that averaged assigned numerical values to all 5 question responses (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree) for each respondent. We used ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests and t tests to explore the relationships between the impact score and member characteristics, including optional self-reported demographics.
Out of 4703 LGBTQ+ Navigation cases, 7.53% (n=354) had member-reported outcomes. A large majority of LGBTQ+ members agreed or strongly agreed that care navigation resulted in less stress (315/354, 89%), less care avoidance (305/354, 86.2%), higher confidence in finding an identity-affirming provider (327/354, 92.4%), improved ability to comprehend health care information (312/354, 88.1%), and improved ability to engage with providers (308/354, 87%). The average impact score was 4.44 (SD 0.69), with statistically significant differences by gender identity (P=.003), race (P=.01), ethnicity (P=.008), and pronouns (P=.02). The scores were highest for members with multiple gender identities (mean 4.56, SD 0.37), and members who did not provide their race, ethnicity, or their pronouns (mean 4.55, SD 0.64). Impact scores were lowest for transgender members (mean 4.11, SD 0.95).
The LGBTQ+ Navigation service, by enhancing members' comprehension and use of necessary care, demonstrates potential public health utility and value. Continuous evaluation of navigation services can serve as a supplementary tool for employers seeking to promote health equity and improve belonging among employees. This is particularly important as discrimination and stigma against LGBTQ+ communities persist in the United States. Therefore, scalable and system-level changes that use navigation services are essential to reach a larger proportion of the LGBTQ+ population.
Choi SK
,Marshall J
,Sexton Topper P
,Pregnall A
,Bauermeister J
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