Students should understand gay health needs

By Andrew Iles London

Gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals who are open about their sexuality report prejudice from health professionals, a new study has found. The questionnaire, done at University College, London, also found that gay men and lesbians saw many advantages in being able to choose a lesbian, gay, or bisexual clinician.

But Jolyon Oxley, co-chair of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentists (GLADD) was wary of the implications of such a move. He said, "GLADD considers that their [gay, lesbian, and bisexual people] needs will be better served in the long run if all clinicians are appropriately skilled to meet their health needs." He added, "Students and doctors need to learn how to respond appropriately to LGB [lesbian, gay, and bisexual] people in all health settings."

Sophie Corlett, policy director of Mind, a mental health charity, hopes that these findings will improve health professionals' understanding of the mental health needs of lesbian, gay, and bisexual patients. She said, "Students looking to make a difference in this area can do a tremendous amount, first of all by looking at their own attitudes and dealing with any preconceptions or homophobia within themselves. Student doctors can make sure services dovetail effectively by ensuring that they keep a look out for mental health problems whenever they're dealing with other aspects of lesbian, gay, and bisexual health."

Speaking about the training, Michael King, author of the study and professor of primary care psychiatry at University College London said, "The most useful approach is to teach [doctors] in medical school when they are most open and least prejudiced. This is best done as part of 'diversity training' (as student or as postgraduates), rather than single it out as a special issue."