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Tertiary paediatric hospital health professionals’ attitudes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health care for their children

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  • Pam Nicol
  • Rose Chapman
  • Rochelle Watkins
  • Jeanine Young
  • Linda Shields

Abstract

Aims and objectives To ascertain health professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health care for their children in a paediatric tertiary hospital setting which practises family‐centred care. Background Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents are often reluctant to disclose their sexual orientation to health professionals for fear of discrimination and compromised quality of care. Staff knowledge, attitudes and beliefs can influence disclosure by parents, but little is known about knowledge, attitudes and beliefs in paediatric tertiary hospital staff towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents accessing care for their children. Design Descriptive comparative study of health staff using a cross‐sectional survey. Methods A set of validated anonymous questionnaires was used to assess knowledge about homosexuality, attitudes towards lesbians and gay men, and gay affirmative practice. Three open‐ended questions were also used to assess beliefs about encouraging disclosure of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parenting roles and how this may impact on care. Results Of the 646 staff surveyed, 212 (32·8%) responded. Knowledge and attitudes were significantly associated with professional group, gender, Caucasian race, political voting behaviour, presence of religious beliefs, the frequency of attendance at religious services, the frequency of praying, and having a friend who was openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Conclusion This study highlighted that staff working in a tertiary paediatric hospital setting, with family‐centred care models in place, held attitudes and beliefs that may impact on the experience of hospitalisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents, and the quality of care received by their children. Relevance to clinical practice To promote equitable care to all families, organisations should ensure that family‐centred care policies and guidelines are adopted and appropriately implemented. In addition to formal education, affirmative health service action and innovative methods may be required.

Suggested Citation

  • Pam Nicol & Rose Chapman & Rochelle Watkins & Jeanine Young & Linda Shields, 2013. "Tertiary paediatric hospital health professionals’ attitudes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health care for their children," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(23-24), pages 3396-3405, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:22:y:2013:i:23-24:p:3396-3405
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.12372
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael B Wells & Sarah N Lang, 2016. "Supporting same‐sex mothers in the Nordic child health field: a systematic literature review and meta‐synthesis of the most gender equal countries," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(23-24), pages 3469-3483, December.
    2. Elaine Bennett & Karen Berry & Theophilus I Emeto & Oliver K Burmeister & Jeanine Young & Linda Shields, 2017. "Attitudes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health care for their children in two early parenting services in Australia," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(7-8), pages 1021-1030, April.
    3. Morten G. Ender & Diane M. Ryan & Danielle A. Nuszkowski & Emma Sarah Spell & Charles B. Atkins, 2017. "Dinner and a Conversation: Transgender Integration at West Point and Beyond," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Anna‐Eva Andersen & Catherine Moberg & Anita Bengtsson Tops & Pernilla Garmy, 2017. "Lesbian, gay and bisexual parents’ experiences of nurses’ attitudes in child health care—A qualitative study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(23-24), pages 5065-5071, December.

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