Increasing LGBTQ Cultural Competence in Primary Care Providers

Abstract

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community experiences healthcare disparities disproportionate to their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts. The etiology of these inequalities is multifactorial, and contribute to poor health outcomes for members of the LGBTQ community. The aim of this DNP quality improvement project was to create a systems-thinking solution to combat barriers this vulnerable population endures when receiving healthcare, by creating an educational program for primary care providers aimed at increasing LGBTQ cultural competence. 120+ providers were present for a live webinar providing education on LGBTQ cultural competence, primary care considerations in this population, and patient case scenarios. For those unable to attend the live session, a self-paced online module was created through a large healthcare organization’s online learning management portal. Based on post-presentation survey results, most providers have some experience with LGBTQ patients, are somewhat comfortable identifying common health problems specific to this population, and are willing to incorporate best practice guidelines from the presentation into their own clinical practice.