LGBT Research and Why It's Lacking

In LGBT health, research is currently being conducted, but there is still research lacking in some areas.  There is currently research being done to determine the healthcare needs of the LGBT community.  Healthy People 2020 (2012) states, “Research suggests that LGBT individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights.”  It has been shown LGBT persons have high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and suicide.  There is significant research showing the increased prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections.  We know that sexual minorities are more likely to have breast cancer, hepatitis A, B, and C, stress related conditions, obesity and homelessness. 

While research has helped reveal the need for LGBT healthcare, more research is needed.  While it has been shown that there are increased risks for diseases such as breast cancer and obesity, little is known about the reasons these are prevalent.  More research is needed to determine why the LGBT community faces greater prevalence of substance abuse, alcoholism, and smoking.  There is a lack of research about LGBT health improvement thus far including improvement of access to health and mental services, support services, and status of disease transmission and progression (Healthy People, 2012).

            Research in LGBT health is lacking for many reasons.  Information is often hard to come by due to poor access and many sexual minorities prefer to be private.  There is a lack of interest in gaining information about LGBT health and statistics.  Much of the research done has shown that there is a higher prevalence of diseases and different health needs than the general public.  The research is generally stopped there, without access to reasons for these differences.  

Healthy People 2020. (2012). 2020 Topics and objectives: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender 

      Health. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020  

      /overview.aspx?topicid=25

Mayer, K. H., Bekker, L. G., Stall, R., Grulich, A. E., Colfax, G., & Lama, J. R. (2012). Comprehensive 

      clinical care for men who have sex with men: an integrated approach. Lancet, 380(9839), 

      378-387.

Current LGBT Research

        While I was looking into what research is currently being conducted to assist in the healthcare of the LGBT community I stumbled upon a great website called ThinkProgress.org which has all kinds of articles relating to LGBT news and health.  I was very inspired by how many fresh looks they had related to LGBT health and news. Two of the articles I found were particularly interesting included updating sex education, and new information on HIV treatments. 

            The first article, titled “Kindergartners Shouldn’t Be Taught Sex Ed, and Other Myths Endangering America’s Youth” was a discussion on the debate of how Chicago public schools have begun implementing teaching sex-ed to kindergartners. This education would initially focus on basic anatomy, reproduction, healthy relationships, and personal safety. Some argue that 5 year olds are much too young to be even considering such “adult” topics, while others insist that teaching children about their reproductive health at an early age will help them be more comfortable with their sexuality later in life.

            The next article was incredibly uplifting and explained that research has shown by treating patients who are newly diagnosed with HIV early and aggressively, there have been patients who are “functionally cured” of their infections.  This impressively includes that ten of the fourteen men and women studied haven’t needed to take any HIV drugs for anywhere from 4-6 years. This finding has been encouraging for researchers in treating, finding a cure for, and even as far as vaccination possibilities for HIV/AIDs, which has affected too many individuals in the LGBT community for far too long. 

Culp-Ressler, T. (2013).  Think Progress. Retrieved from http://thinkprogress.org/health/issue/

Healthcare Professionals Must Advocate for LGBT Patients

The Institute of Medicine has highlighted specific healthcare concerns that greatly affect the health of LGBT members. The following is a list of healthcare areas that have been reported to be most prevalent and problematic. It has been reported that homosexual populations have higher rates of cardiovascular disease and obesity, an increased risk of lung, ovarian, endometrial, cervical, breast, and stomach cancer, and higher rates of mental health problems (O’Hanlan et al., 2004). Due to the increased risk factors for heart disease and multiple types of cancers, researcher efforts are geared towards the development of culturally competent risk reduction strategies to eliminate heath disparities and equalities among the LGBT population.

The Department of Health and Human Services has developed and summarized a list of health challenges faced by homosexual individuals. Many of these problems are related to the access of preventive service such as Pap smears for lesbians. Research has found that some physicians have incorrectly informed lesbians that they do not require a Pap smear because they are in a low risk category (O’Hanlan et al., 2004). This situation depicts the cause of health disparities due to the lack of knowledge and sensitivity of the LGBT population.

As a healthcare professional and advocate, one must demonstrate competent care for all patients regardless of their cultural beliefs, sexual orientation, and ethical values. To advocate and provide equal care for the LGBT population, healthcare professionals must know how to competently care for the needs of these patients. The article Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health: Is Nursing Still in The Closet?, stated that to break the silence regarding the proper care for LGBT patients, scholarly disclosure must be addressed in the classroom and curriculum of nursing schools, in research, and at the bedside (Lim & Levitt, 2011). For example, nursing school curricula lack focus on the LGBT population. The implementation of case studies and clinical scenarios geared towards the LBGT population problems will increase the competency and equality of care delivered by healthcare professional. To practice competently as a health professional it is imperative that nursing educators, researchers, and registered nurses have to ability and understanding how to address and provide the appropriate care for the health needs of these patients. To remain faithful to the profession’s mission, healthcare professionals must take a proactive approach to addressing the needs and safety of LGBT patients (Lim & Levitt, 2011).

Policies and standards must change within the institution to end the discrimination against homosexuality and inequality of all LGBT patients. Policy statements should note and reinforce that it is against the professional code of ethics to deny lesbians insemination or obstetrical services and to deny adoption to individuals based on sexual orientation. It is not only important to readdress these standards with the employees, but also ensure all patients and visitors of the hospital or clinic are aware of these policies. A printed sample of the policy may be posted in patient rooms, waiting rooms, or hallways to reinforce the institutions nondiscrimination approach to providing equal care to all patients (O’Hanlan et al., 2004).

O’Hanlan, K., Dibble, S., Hagan, H, & Davids, R. (2004). Advocacy for women’s health should include lesbian 

          health. Journal of Women’s Health, 13(2), 227-234.

Lim, F., & Levitt, N. (2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health. American Journal of Nursing,  

          111(11), 11.