Providing Care to LGBT Patients in Guyana: An Assessment of Medical Providers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Readiness to Learn

Abstract

This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes and desire for continued education among Guyanese doctors with regards to LGBT health. It utilized a mixed methodology of quantitative, self-administered online surveys among 90 doctors, and qualitative semi-structured individual interviews with 8 other doctors. Descriptive and analytic calculations were performed on the quantitative data while thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data. The results show moderate knowledge levels regarding LGBT health, with deficits in awareness of LGBT health disparities; generally nondiscriminatory attitudes; and suboptimal education on LGBT health. Further training and pre-service curricular changes are necessary to address gaps and improve competency.

Keywords:

• LGBT
• Caribbean
• Guyana
• medical doctors
• attitudes

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Navina Paul, Kevin Hohenkirk, Sharice Razack and Shane Paul for their invaluable contributions during data collection and SASOD Guyana for logistical support.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.