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Clinician and Interdisciplinary Staff Perspectives on LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Inpatient Pediatrics
Bridget F Dorsey1,2, Meg Grimshaw1,2, Sarah E Wawrzynski3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Insights
Pediatric health providers face challenges in caring for LGBTQ+ youth, including discomfort and missed opportunities. Enhanced education and protocols are crucial for improving inclusive, patient-centered care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other nonheterosexual and noncisgender pediatric patients and families.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- LGBTQ+ Health Equity
- Qualitative Research Methods
Background:
- Limited understanding of healthcare experiences for pediatric patients and families with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (SO-GI) in inpatient settings.
- Need for improved inclusive practices within pediatric healthcare environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the perspectives of pediatric inpatient healthcare providers and staff on caring for children and families with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other nonheterosexual and noncisgender (LGBTQ+) identities.
- To identify common themes, barriers, and opportunities for enhancing inclusive care for LGBTQ+ pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Inductive qualitative study design.
- Conducted at a 290-bed children's hospital.
- Analysis of 19 semistructured individual interviews using thematic analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified challenges and opportunities in collecting and utilizing sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) information.
- Overarching themes included discomfort due to anti-LGBTQ+ culture, awareness of harm from missed opportunities, and a desire for growth through education and protocols.
- Significant variations in awareness and application of inclusive practices were noted.
Conclusions:
- Study highlights a gap in literature regarding LGBTQ+ care in inpatient pediatric settings.
- Opportunities exist to enhance inclusivity and patient-centered care for LGBTQ+ pediatric patients and families.
- Implementation of targeted education and standardized protocols can foster a more equitable healthcare environment.
Objective:
This qualitative study explores the experiences and perspectives of pediatric inpatient health care providers and interdisciplinary clinical staff members caring for children and families with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other nonheterosexual and noncisgender identities (LGBTQ+), with a focus on identifying common perspectives and patterns related to inclusive practices, barriers, and opportunities for improvement.
Patients And Methods:
We conducted an inductive qualitative study at a 290-bed children's hospital in the Mountain West region of the United States. Transcripts from 19 semistructured individual interviews were analyzed in 2 coding cycles. Methodological rigor was maintained via team discussions and reflexivity.
Results:
Thematic analysis revealed both challenges and opportunities in the collection and use of SOGI information in inpatient pediatric care. Three overarching themes were identified and explored: (1) confusion and discomfort in the context of anti-LGBTQ+ culture, (2) regret and variable awareness regarding harm and missed opportunities, and (3) hope for growth through education and protocol.
Conclusions:
This study addresses a gap in the current literature on LGBTQ+ care in an inpatient setting and highlights opportunities to enhance inclusivity and patient-centered care. Addressing these areas can foster a more inclusive and equitable inpatient environment for LGBTQ+ pediatric patients and families.
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