Educating Nursing Students About Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Intersex, Plus Patients: The Impact of an Advocacy Program on Knowledge and Attitudes

Abstract

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Abstract AIM This study evaluated the effects of a program designed to help students provide culturally competent care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersex, plus (LGBTQI+) patients. BACKGROUND The LGBTQI+ community faces disparities linked to stigma and discrimination. The Advocacy™ Program was developed to supplement the curriculum in schools of nursing. METHOD Nursing students from six schools of nursing (n = 1,398) received advocacy training. Students were administered the Genderism and Transphobia Scale, the Homonegativity Scale, and additional knowledge questions before and after training. RESULTS The findings were positive, indicating an increase in student attitude scores, vocabulary and disparity knowledge, and knowledge regarding care for an LGBTQI+ client (p < .05). CONCLUSION By building a culture of inclusion through recognition of diverse patients in the curriculum, nursing schools can develop a culture of connection that strengthens patient-provider relationships and improves mental and physical health.