An Exploration of Factors of LGBT Cultural Competency Among Prospective Healthcare Professionals

Author

Heather IsbellFollow

Campus Location

Abilene Campus (Residential)

Date of Award

Spring 5-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Social Work

Degree Name

Master of Science

Committee Chair or Primary Advisor

Kyeonghee Jang

Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor

Tom Winter

Third Committee Member or Committee Reader

Kyle Galyean

Abstract

Literature suggests there is a relationship between cultural competency and health outcomes as well as a perceived fear of discrimination LGBT individuals face when attempting to receive healthcare services. The aim of this study is to assess the level of LGBT CC (cultural competency) among prospective professionals who are expected to provide health care services and to explore factors that affect those attributes. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to test the effect of the following factors of LGBT CC: postsecondary experience, relations with LGBT individuals, and religion using a sample of 57 different healthcare students in a faith-based university during the spring of 2019. Although postsecondary experience did not have a significant effect, other findings within the disciplines raised awareness for this study. However, having a close relationship with a LGBT individual was found to be significant for both LGBT CC-belief and behavior, and religiosity was found to have a negative effect towards LGBT CC-behavior. The implication of the findings is not to disregard the postsecondary experience, but to point out the differences among disciplines. Knowing that the LGBT population is facing discrimination within healthcare settings makes it imperative for healthcare university programs and healthcare facilities to educate students and employees to be more culturally competent when working with LGBT clients.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Isbell, Heather, "An Exploration of Factors of LGBT Cultural Competency Among Prospective Healthcare Professionals" (2019). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 131.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/131