LGBTQ Medical Education Research Group–

Project: LGBT Content in Undergraduate Medical Curricula

Project: LGBT Content in Undergraduate Medical Curricula
Aims/Objectives
  • Assess the breadth and depth of LGBT-related curricular content in M.D.- and D.O.-granting medical schools in the U.S. and Canada by surveying Deans of Medical Education.
  • Determine the number of hours dedicated to LGBT-related curricular content in undergraduate medical education.
  • Determine the presence or absence of 16 LGBT-related topics in medical curricula.
  • Determine whether institutions provide faculty development for teaching about LGBT patient health.
  • Determine whether institutions have clinical clerkship sites specifically designed to facilitate LGBT patient care.
  • Identify how deans rate the quality of their school’s LGBT patient care content.
  • Identify deans’ strategies for increasing their institution’s LGBT-related curricular content.
Overview Study Design
  • 16 LGBT-related topics identified from literature search, validated with LGBT health experts
  • Method: 13-question, Internet-based questionnaire (piloted with >10 Deans)
  • Target: Deans of medical education (or equivalent) at 176 allopathic or osteopathic medical schools in Canada and the United States 
  • Timeframe: May 2009 – March 2010
Top Findings
  • Coming soon
Data Source Web-based Questionnaire sent to Deans of Medical Education
Partners/Collaborators
  • Gay and Lesbian Medical Association
  • American Medical Association: Advisory Committee, GLBT Issues
  • American Association of Medical Colleges
  • American Association of Medical Colleges: Committee on Diversity Affairs
  • American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
Related Literature
  • Bostwick WB, Boyd CJ, Hughes TL, McCabe SE. Dimensions of sexual orientation and the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in the United States. Am J Public Health. Mar 2010; 100(3):468-475.
  • Bradburn NM, Sudman S, Blair E, Stocking C. Question Threat and Response Bias. Public Opinion Quarterly. 1978; 42(2):221-234.
  • Cohen-Kettenis PT, Pfafflin F. The DSM diagnostic criteria for gender identity disorder in adolescents and adults. Arch Sex Behav. Apr 2010; 39(2):499-513.
  • Coker TR, Austin SB, Schuster MA. The health and health care of lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents. Annu Rev Public Health. Apr 21 2010; 31:457-477.
  • Garofalo R, Deleon J, Osmer E, Doll M, Harper GW. Overlooked, misunderstood and at-risk: exploring the lives and HIV risk of ethnic minority male-to-female transgender youth. J Adolesc Health. Mar 2006; 38(3):230-236.
  • Healthy People 2010 Companion Document for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Health. San Francisco, CA: Gay and Lesbian Medical Association; 2001.
  • Institutional Programs and Educational Activities to Address the Needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Students and Patients. Washington, DC: Association of American Medical Colleges; 2007.
  • Kelley L, Chou CL, Dibble SL, Robertson PA. A critical intervention in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health: knowledge and attitude outcomes among second-year medical students. Teach Learn Med. Jul-Sep 2008; 20(3):248-253.
  • King M, Nazareth I. The health of people classified as lesbian, gay and bisexual attending family practitioners in London: a controlled study. BMC Public Health. 2006; 6:127.
  • Kulkin HS, Williams J, Borne HF, de la Bretonne D, Laurendine J. A review of research on violence in same-gender couples: a resource for clinicians. J Homosex. 2007; 53(4):71-87.
  • Lindley LL, Nicholson TJ, Kerby MB, Lu N. HIV/STI associated risk behaviors among self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender college students in the United States. AIDS Educ Prev. Oct 2003; 15(5):413-429.
  • Makadon HJ, Mayer KH, Potter J, Goldhammer H. The Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Physicians; 2007.
  • Marrazzo JM, Thomas KK, Fiedler TL, Ringwood K, Fredricks DN. Risks for acquisition of bacterial vaginosis among women who report sex with women: a cohort study. PLoS One. 2010; 5(6):e11139.
  • Park IU, Palefsky JM. Evaluation and Management of Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia in HIV-Negative and HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men. Curr Infect Dis Rep. Mar 2010; 12(2):126-133.
  • Pathela P, Hajat A, Schillinger J, Blank S, Sell R, Mostashari F. Discordance between sexual behavior and self-reported sexual identity: a population-based survey of New York City men. Ann Intern Med. Sep 19 2006; 145(6):416-425.
  • Ryan C, Huebner D, Diaz RM, Sanchez J. Family rejection as a predictor of negative health outcomes in white and Latino lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults. Pediatrics. Jan 2009; 123(1):346-352.
  • Sanchez NF, Rabatin J, Sanchez JP, Hubbard S, Kalet A. Medical students' ability to care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered patients. Fam Med. Jan 2006; 38(1):21-27.
  • Smith DM, Mathews WC. Physicians' attitudes toward homosexuality and HIV: survey of a California Medical Society- revisited (PATHH-II). J Homosex. 2007; 52(3-4):1-9.
  • Standard Definitions: Final Dispositions of Case Codes and Outcome Rates for Surveys. 6th ed. Lenexa, KS: American Association for Public Opinion Research; 2009.
  • Tesar CM, Rovi SL. Survey of curriculum on homosexuality/bisexuality in departments of family medicine. Fam Med. Apr 1998; 30(4):283-287.
  • The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding. Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine (IOM); 2011.
  • Wallick MM, Cambre KM, Townsend MH. How the topic of homosexuality is taught at U.S. medical schools. Acad Med. Sep 1992; 67(9):601-603.
LGBT MERG Presentations, Abstracts, and Publications To be added.
LGBT MERG Contact Mitchell R. Lunn, M.D.

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