Storytelling to improve healthcare worker understanding, beliefs, and practices related to LGBTQ + patients: A program evaluation

Eval Program Plann. 2022 Feb:90:101979. doi: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.101979. Epub 2021 Jul 8.

Abstract

LGBTQ + persons experience significant health inequities and medical distrust resulting from anti-LGBTQ + bias or cultural incompetence from health care workers (HCW). This program evaluation examined whether storytelling events where LGBTQ + persons shared personal and patient experiences changed HCW understanding, beliefs, and practices related to LGBTQ + patients. Five storytelling events, held biannually in Baltimore, Maryland from 2016 to 2018, were evaluated using post-event surveys, written reflections/notes during the event, and a survey of HCW in a citywide care collaborative focused on HIV prevention and treatment for LGBTQ + persons that did and did not attend a storytelling event. We analyzed surveys to measure differences in understanding, beliefs and practices and used thematic qualitative analysis of written reflections/notes from the storytelling events. 416 persons attended storytelling events; 124(30 %) completed post-event surveys and 449 written reflections/notes were collected. 56 HCW completed post-event surveys; 49(87.5 %) strongly agreed/agreed they better understood LGBTQ + patients. Emergent themes from the 43 HCW written reflections/notes included improved understanding and new approaches for engaging LGBTQ + patients. Among HCW survey respondents (n = 111), attending an event was associated with significant differences in beliefs (p = 0.024) and practices (p = 0.000) related to LGBTQ + patients. Storytelling events may serve as effective tools for increasing HCW's understanding, beliefs and practices. This strategy may ultimately help decrease anti-LGBTQ + bias, reduce medical distrust and lower barriers to HIV prevention/treatment for LGBTQ + persons.

Keywords: Cultural competence; Health care worker; Health disparities; Health equity; Implicit bias; LGBTQ; Medical distrust.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Communication
  • Health Inequities*
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Program Evaluation
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities*