Perioperative Provider and Staff Competency in Providing Culturally Competent LGBTQ Healthcare in Pediatric Setting

Children and adolescents identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ) may feel reluctant to seek medical care due to stigma and the possibility of negative interactions with health care providers. Due to the short duration of the perioperative period, the interaction in this setting is limited and providers may not have the time to develop a rapport with the patient. It is imperative that staff are trained to address the patient and family in a culturally competent manner.

We undertook surveys before and after a 2 part educational series among the pediatric perioperative staff to understand the impact of providing education and cultural competency training regarding caring for patients who identify as LGBTQ. Providers self-reported their knowledge and comfort on a 1-5 point scale (5 being most knowledgeable or comfortable) in 6 domains of caring for LGBTQ patients. Objective knowledge of LGBTQ issues was assessed using 7 questions based on lecture material. On objective assessment, knowledge of LGBTQ issues improved after cultural competency training.

The analysis included 90 responses. Before training, median ratings of knowledge and comfort were 3 or 4 out of a maximum of 5 for each domain. The pre-training median score on the 7-item test of LGBTQ cultural competency was 5 (IQR: 4, 6). After training, knowledge and comfort self-ratings did not improve, but the score on the objective knowledge test increased to a median of 6 (IQR: 4, 7; p=0.011) of 7 possible points.

Anesthesia providers participating in LGBTQ cultural competency training self-reported high levels of knowledge and comfort with providing care to LGBTQ patients even before formal training was provided. On objective assessment, knowledge of LGBTQ issues improved after cultural competency training.