Physicians cause low quality care for LGBT and disabled patients
Physicians who do not discuss issues regarding homosexuality and disability are preventing better care for their patients, a according to a Rowan University professor of family medicine.
Physicians’ reluctance to discuss disabilities, sex, work and independence with disabled patients deprives patients of high quality care by leaving important health concerns unaddressed, said osteopathic physician Dr. Joshua Coren.
Primary care providers frequently fail to discuss contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, emotional health and basic wellness concerns like diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol use with patients who have disabilities, Dr. Coren added.
“The statistics make a very compelling case that as osteopathic physicians, we need to overcome our subconscious perceptions and make sure we see every patient as a whole person, particularly when they are living with a disability. Disabled individuals have sex, use alcohol and drugs, over eat and under exercise like other populations, yet their doctors tend to avoid those topics,” Dr. Coren said.
LGBT Affirmative Physician Attitudes
- Don’t automatically assume that a patient is heterosexual
- Adopt the belief that homophobia–not sexual orientation– is the problem
- Accept that a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered identity is a positive outcome
- Work with patients to decrease internalized homophobia to help them achieve a positive identity
- Have basic knowledge about human sexuality
- Deal with one’s homophobia and heterosexist bias if it occurs
Failure to address unconscious biases decreases the physician’s ability to prevent disease, which is a basic tenet of osteopathic medicine. Prevention is also a primary concern for LGBT populations, which disproportionately experience social and behavioral risk factors, including higher rates of smoking, alcohol use and depression. Physicians, particularly those with strong religious convictions, are encouraged to examine their belief systems closely and monitor their own behavior for negative reactions to LGBT patients.
