Aim: This study aimed to analyze the reliability and validity of a Korean version of the Nursing Student Attitudes and Knowledge Toward Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Patients (K-NAKL) Scale, which measures health and heterosexual attitudes toward LGBT individuals.
Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals often face discrimination and a lack of care experience on the part of healthcare professionals.
Introduction: In South Korea, the current knowledge and attitude measurement tools for medical staff regarding LGBT individuals are limited, as they only focus on homosexuality and do not account for different sexual orientations.
Methods: The participants were 217 nursing college students aged 18-25. The item-total correlations method and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used to analyze internal consistency reliability. Face validity, content validity, construct validity, and criterion validity testing were conducted to establish scale validity. We made sure to follow STROBE guidelines when carrying out this research.
Results: The K-NAKL is a culturally appropriate instrument used to measure the attitudes and knowledge of Korean nursing students when it comes to LGBT health.
Discussion: As LGBT health is increasingly gaining social interest, the nursing education curriculum needs to produce culturally competent graduates to meet the health needs of this vulnerable and marginalized population. The current study contributes to that goal.
Conclusion: The K-NAKL is a valid and reliable tool with which to measure attitudes and knowledge regarding LGBT health among Korean nursing students.
Implications for nursing: The K-NAKL can enable Korean nursing students to increase their knowledge and improve their attitudes when caring for the LGBT population.
Implications for nursing policy and health policy: The study highlights the importance of incorporating LGBT-related health education into nursing curricula and developing inclusive policies to improve the quality of care and health outcomes for LGBT individuals.
Keywords: LGBT; attitudes; knowledge; nursing students; quality of care; sexual orientation.