Becoming more LGBTQIA+ friendly in your practice

People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual/agender (LGBTQIA+) often face serious health inequities compared to the general population, as well as additional challenges due to marginalisation and harrassment.^1,2 This 1-hour educational activity is designed to empower GPs to create a safer and more welcoming environment for LGBTQIA+ people in order to provide them with more holistic and patient-centred healthcare.³ The module explores some of the health issues that can be affected by a person’s gender or sexual orientation, and uses case studies and examples to demonstrate how to incorporate inclusive language, attitudes and systems within primary care. It also provides an extensive list of information resources and further training that GPs can access to learn more about health-related issues facing LGBTQIA+ people in Australia.

On completion of this education activity participants will be able to:

• Explain the barriers that LGBTQIA+ people may face in accessing healthcare, and identify health disparities faced by LGBTQIA+ people and discuss what the causes of these disparities are.
• Define “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” and describe the diversity of gender identities and sexual orientations that exists among LGBTQIA+ people.
• Better understand the lived experience of LGBTQIA+ people.
• Incorporate inclusive language and attitudes in your daily practice to make your service more welcoming, and explain how this can positively impact LGBTQIA+ patients.
• Access information resources and further training to learn more about health-related issues facing LGBTQIA+ people in Australia.

This activity is sponsored by STIs in Gay Men Action Group.

References

1. Australian Medical Association. AMA Position Statement. LGBTQIA+ Health – 2021. Available at: https://www.ama.com.au/articles/lgbtqia-health-2021 Accessed Feb 2023.
2. Hill, A. O., Bourne, A., McNair, R., Carman, M. & Lyons, A. (2020). Private Lives 3: The health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people in Australia. ARCSHS Monograph Series No. 122. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University.
3. Rainbow Health Victoria. Research matters: Why do we need LGBTIQ-inclusive services? Available at: https://www.rainbowhealthvic.org.au/media/pages/research-resources/research-matters-why-do-we-need-lgbtiq-inclusive-services/3898382955-1614819704/research-matters-lgbtq-inclusive-services.pdf Accessed Feb 2023.