National LGBT Health Education Center Modules: Caring for LGBTQ Youth in Clinical Settings

Date of Review: June, 2019

This resource is an online educational module by the National LGBT Health Education Center about Caring for LGBTQ Youth in Clinical Settings. This module that introduces the unique developmental challenges; health disparities and barriers to accessing care by LGBTQ youth. Strategies for interviewing, supporting, and educating LBGTQ youth about social and health concerns are explained and additional resources available for the health and wellbeing of these patients. An explanatory model that outlines the many contextual factors leading to health issues unique to this population is proposed. Essentially, discrimination and marginalization of LGBTQ youth from factors like violence in school, family rejection and social stigma create stressors, lead to mental health issues and can lead to an increase in risky behaviors with consequent negative outcomes in health and well-being. The importance of the clinician’s roles, including that of an adult confidante in supporting the patient’s healthy development about their identity or related concerns is described. Tips are given for creating an inclusive environment throughout the clinic both structurally and through inclusive instructions with respectful staff. There are two versions of this material available, one is a slide set that can be downloaded and also an interactive version with short quizzes; definitions and includes a notes section with detailed explanations. The interactive online module is timed and must be completed sequentially and questions answered to continue throughout module. Given the structure of the interactive module, it can easily be completed asynchronously and can be used by clinical health professional students in their pre-clinical years. This can be integrated into any health equity, diversity, LGBTQ or social medicine curriculum and in addition to being a self-contained module contains an annotated reference list to support faculty and students using this resource. This module is one of many free education modules addressing LGBT health and serves as a helpful introduction to basic concepts in clinical care for LGBTQ youth. Note: you must create a free account on the National LGBT Health Education website in order to access these materials. . –Ashti Doobay-Persaud, MD, NCEAS

Corresponding Author’s Email:

www.lgbthealtheducation.org

Institution:

Fenway Institute

Source of the Curriculum/Resource:

Online