Equitable training equals equitable care: Cultural competency training of healthcare providers for sexual minorities

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: The hierarchy of the American medical system and it’s disconnect of recognition beyond the binary of sexual minorities has created systematic inequitable care because of lack of appropriate cultural competency training. Healthcare providers are not adequately taught appropriate cultural competencies in standardized academic training. Methods: Given an online survey of varied health care providers (N = 208), the research examined “culturally competent health care delivery” knowledge, stage of change; precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance; as per the work of Prochaska & DiClemente, (1983) for taking action to be culturally sensitive, culturally competent, culturally appropriate, and future training desirability. Results: The sample population reported a high self-rating for aligning with definition of cultural competency; prevalence of 6 to 10 hours of engagement in cultural competence training; rating 3.97 (SD = .741) of quality for cultural competence training; Pre-Survey Stage of Change (N = 208) mean was 4.32 between action and maintenance, but closest to action (SD = 1.21); and with 71.2% already in maintenance it is noted that the research captured providers who have received equitable training, offering equitable care. Conclusions: Affirmation for LGBT clients is a critical adaptive response for practitioners recognizing the overt social injustices that have occurred historically as personal injustices and responding in a positive and accepting manner can dramatically improve patient engagement. Training within the confines of a grounded evidenced based theory can support appropriate and culturally competent equitable care. Keywords: healthcare providers, cultural competency, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), stages of change, transtheoretical model