Vulnerable Populations Assessment by Lindsay Kelvington https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali LGBTQ+ en-us 2021-09-02 01:14:06 UTC 2025-02-14 17:47:56 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f3f3-1f308.png lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1713935727 The LGBTQ+ population includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, individuals who are still questioning, and more. This population is diverse in sexual orientation as well as ethnically and racially diverse. The LGBTQ+ community is rapidly growing, and unfortunately, along with that comes discrimination, bias, and stigmatization. Although healthcare providers go through many courses and trainings to provide equitable care, there is still subconscious bias and discrimination that afflicts certain populations which makes those populations vulnerable. The LGBTQ+ community is at high risk of either not receiving healthcare at all or receiving poor quality care. According to Healthy People 2020, societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of civil and human rights make this specific population vulnerable to health disparities. Healthy People 2020 also points out that discrimination against the LGBTQ+ population has led to high rates of psychiatric disorder, substance abuse, and suicide. LGBTQ+ members have less access to care and are more likely to delay necessary medical care. Some factors that contribute to this population delaying care are prior experiences of discrimination and denial of care from health care providers. These factors put this population at a higher risk of disease and reduction of lifespan, thus, making them a vulnerable population.
 
Our group, The Rainbow Researchers, collectively decided to research this population because we believe in equity within healthcare. The Rainbow Researchers agree that our job as nurses is to provide safe and equitable care to every patient regardless of their life choices, beliefs, skin color, gender, ethnicity, etc. We all also know people close to us that are a part of this population and it is heartbreaking to know that the hardships they face even get carried over into the healthcare setting. We want to educate ourselves so that we are able to advocate for these patients that have become used to being stigmatized and/or discriminated against.

]]> 2021-09-03 00:23:03 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1713935727 Neighborhood & Built Environment-LGBTQ individuals can face a variety of difficulties in their neighborhood setting. One of these difficulties is discrimination in the housing market. Specifically, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals experience high rates of differential treatment compared to non-transgendered individuals. This treatment often looks like not being shown additional housing options, not being offered financial incentives, and being quoted higher rental prices. This means they are more likely to live in a house that has poorer quality. Housing quality includes “air quality, home safety, space per individual, and the presence of mold, asbestos, or lead” (ODPHP, n.d.). Having poor housing quality can increase people's risk for illnesses and chronic diseases. Additionally, LGBTQ individuals are highly likely to be the victims of hate crimes, both verbally and physically. They are the most likely to experience these types of crimes more than any other group in America (Cahill, 2020). Being exposed to violence can increase people's risk of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Overall, both of these environmental contexts make everyday living very difficult for LGBTQ individuals, leading to complications in other areas. Ultimately this leads to economic uncertainty and poor healthcare. lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716266288 2021-09-04 02:17:24 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716266288 Social & Community Context-Social and community support is extremely important for all groups. In recent years, the LGBTQ community has grown and provided support to many individuals. However, there still persists problems of social isolation and out casting that needs addressing. Individuals in the LGBTQ community can face social isolation in a number of ways. One of those ways is incarceration. Within the youth of this community, they are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system, while transgendered adults are overrepresented in the adult corrections facilities. Incarceration leads to a higher likelihood of a copious amount of health issues, such as an increased risk for high blood pressure, asthma, cancer, arthritis, and infectious diseases (i.e. HIV or TB) (ODPHP, n.d.). Another problem exists in the elderly population of the LGBTQ community. They are less likely to receive social services and culturally competent providers, therefore increasing the chance for isolation (ODPHP, n.d.). Social isolation can be the cause of depression and anxiety, which can ultimately lead to physical health problems. lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267288 2021-09-04 02:18:43 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267288 Education Access & Quality-LGBTQ individuals are at a higher risk of facing bullying and harassment while in school. Research has shown that LGBTQ individuals are more likely to face discrimination from peers and teachers in the school system (Roberts, 2020). This has many implications on their development and even life after high school. These implications can include being less likely to graduate high school, go to college, and get a well paying job. This ultimately can cause this population to not be able to afford health services, causing them to have poorer health outcomes. lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267463 2021-09-04 02:19:00 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267463 Healthcare Access & Quality-LGBTQ individuals are at a high risk for a number of diseases and illnesses. For example, “lesbians are less likely to get preventative services for cancer, gay men are at high risk of HIV and other STDs, and LGBT population have the highest rates of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug uses” (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d.). Despite the fact that these individuals are at a high risk for these health problems, they are less likely to seek medical attention due to fear of discrimination from healthcare providers. They are more likely to struggle finding a non-judgmental provider who can provide the services they need. This prohibits them from receiving any needed treatment or any possible preventative care. In addition, they are also more likely to be uninsured due to increased poverty and unemployment rates (Kastanis & Gates, 2019). This is also another barrier that stops LGBTQ individuals from receiving needed medical attention or any preventative care. lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267589 2021-09-04 02:19:11 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267589 Economic Stability-One of the main causes for poor health care is economic instability. With LGBTQ community there is an overwhelming amount of evidence and research that shows they are more likely to experience poverty. Consequently, the rates of homelessness are very high within this community, especially among LGBTQ youths (ODPHP, n.d.). They are also more likely to experience unemployment, food insecurity, and not have insurance. Individuals who are unemployed are more likely to suffer from stress-related illnesses such as high blood pressure. Economic instability overall can increase a person’s risk for having stress-related illnesses but also decreases a person’s chances for receiving treatment due to being unable to afford healthcare services. lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267687 2021-09-04 02:19:21 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267687 Cahill, S. (2020, July). Addressing Social Determinants of Health Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) People . LGBTQIA+ Health Education. https://www.lgbtqia healtheducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Addressing-Social-Determinants-of-Health-for-SGM-People-pt1.pdf.Kastanis, A., & Gates, G. J. (2019, January). LGBT Data & Demographics. The Williams Institute. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/visualization/lgbt-stats/?topic=LGBT#demographic.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Crime and violence. Crime and Violence | Healthy People 2020. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/crime-and-violence.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Employment. Employment | Healthy People 2020. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/employment#:~:text=Those%20who%20are%20unemployed%20report,7%20worry%2C%20and%20physical%20pain.&text=Unemployed%20individuals%20tend%20to%20suffer,%2C%20heart%20disease%2C%20and%20arthritis.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Incarceration. Incarceration | Healthy People 2020. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/incarceration.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and Transgender health. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health | Healthy People 2020. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-health.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Quality of housing. Quality of Housing | Healthy People 2020. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/quality-of-housing.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Social cohesion. Social Cohesion | Healthy People 2020. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/social-cohesion#4.Roberts, M. (2020, August 26). CDC releases National Youth risk BEHAVIOR surveillance results. HRC. https://www.hrc.org/news/new-cdc-data-shows-lgbtq-youth-are-more-likely-to-be-bullied-than-straight-cisgender-youth. lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267882 2021-09-04 02:19:39 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716267882 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716270406 2021-09-04 02:23:28 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716270406 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716271646 2021-09-04 02:25:18 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716271646 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716272720 2021-09-04 02:26:52 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716272720 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716273789 2021-09-04 02:28:26 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716273789 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716275270 2021-09-04 02:30:43 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716275270 There are various health disparities that the LGBTQ+ community face. One of the main health disparities is associated with mental health. Mental health problems have been shown to be almost 2 times more prevalent within the LGBTQ+ community. This increased prevalence comes with not being able to seek help within the healthcare community due to continued biases of healthcare members and/or the fear of openly talking about their lifestyle. Even with many advances for the community over the years, the LGBTQ+ individuals are still highly stigmatized. Many individuals within this community have greater occurrences of depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts that they have to face on their own without help. Which can open up the door to various other realms such as the increase in drug or alcohol abuse and eating disorders. This is an example of only one health disparity, although this community faces so much more. lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716276177 2021-09-04 02:32:06 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716276177 Capezuti, E. (2018). PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OLDER LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER ADULTS. The Encyclopedia of Elder Care (4th ed.). Springer Publishing Company. https://www-r2library-com.ezproxy.cpcc.edu/Resource/Title/0826140521/ch0015s1378 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716276372 2021-09-04 02:32:23 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716276372 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716276896 2021-09-04 02:33:12 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716276896 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716279502 2021-09-04 02:36:08 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716279502 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716295565 2021-09-04 02:59:05 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716295565 Dustin Z. Nowaskie & John S. Sowinski (2019) Primary Care Providers’ Attitudes, Practices, and Knowledge in Treating LGBTQ Communities, Journal of Homosexuality, 66:13, 1927-1947, DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2018.1519304 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716297854 2021-09-04 03:02:28 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716297854 nhousto3 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716307387 False Assumption: Homosexuality is an illness, or a health issue.

Truth: Homosexuality is not a disorder or a disease. Homosexuality is a natural and non-pathological variation of human sexuality. Being LGBTQ+ is not a choice or a phase. Most of the LGBTQ+ community will agree that there was no sense of choice regarding their sexual orientation. It is simply the way that they feel.

False Assumption: All LGBTQ people have HIV/AIDS. 

Truth: People of all sexual orientations are at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. In various areas of the world, HIV/AIDS is mainly an issue among the heterosexual population. Stigma, discrimination, and exclusion of LGBTQ+ people contributes to the lack of access to accurate information regarding HIV and safe sex practices, prevention, testing, treatment, care, and support. Because of this lack of information, LGBTQ+ people are at greater risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS.

False Assumption: LGBTQ+ individuals do not experience discrimination in accessing health care.

Truth: There are many documented instances detailing LGBTQ+ discrimination in health care. One case of discrimination involved an HIV patient who was denied his HIV medication due to telling the hospital staff that his partner was male. One study reported that 29 percent of transgender people said that a health care provider denied them care because of their gender identity (Crossway et al., 2019). Twelve percent said a doctor denied them health care pertaining to gender transition. Another study found that one in seven LGBTQ+ people have avoided treatment for fear of discrimination because they are LGBTQ+.

False Assumption: Health care providers receive formal training on the specific needs of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Truth: A study collected by the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the average amount of time spent learning about LGBTQ content was approximately five hours during a four-year medical program (Crossway et al., 2019).   

]]> 2021-09-04 03:16:27 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716307387 nhousto3 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716308529 Crossway, A., & Edgerton, G. (2019). LGBTQ+ Myths and Misconceptions Within the Health Care Community. NATAnews, 30–32. ]]> 2021-09-04 03:18:23 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716308529 nhousto3 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716312295 LGBTI myths vs. reality. Parliamentarians for Global Action - Mobilizing Legislators as Champions for Human Rights, Democracy and Peace. (n.d.). https://www.pgaction.org/inclusion/practical-tools/myths-and-reality.html. ]]> 2021-09-04 03:24:34 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716312295 nhousto3 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716320086 Time Out Youth Center offers support, advocacy, and opportunities for personal development and social interaction to LGBTQ youth.

https://www.timeoutyouth.org/]]> 2021-09-04 03:35:28 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716320086 nhousto3 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716322296 Equality North Carolina is dedicated to securing rights and protections for the LGBTQ community. 

https://equalitync.org/]]> 2021-09-04 03:38:36 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716322296 nhousto3 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716325394 The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of North Carolina works to protect and advance civil rights and civil liberties for all North Carolinians.

acluofnorthcarolina.org

https://action.aclu.org/legal-intake/nc]]> 2021-09-04 03:43:18 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716325394 nhousto3 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716327526 National Center for Transgender Equality represents a powerful transgender advocacy presence in Washington, DC.

https://transequality.org/health-coverage-guide]]> 2021-09-04 03:46:23 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716327526 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716733849 2021-09-04 16:28:22 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716733849 htrejo00 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716875890
Bucholtz, K. (2021, March 1). 5.6 Percent of U.S. Adults Identify as LGBT.
         https://www.statista.com/chart/18228/share-of-americans-identifying-as-lgbt/


Healthy People. (n.d.). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health. Retrieved September 2, 
2021, from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-health

Morris, M., Cooper, R. L., Ramesh, A., Tabatabai, M., Arcury, T. A., Shinn, M., Im, W., Juarez, P., Matthews-Juarez, P. (2019). Training to reduce LGBTQ-related bias among medical, nursing, and dental students and providers: a systematic review. BMC Medical Education, 19, 1-13. http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.cpcc.edu/10.1186/s12909-019-1727-3

]]> 2021-09-04 21:41:53 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1716875890 Gray, A. (2019, November 20). LGBTQ+ Health Care Struggles: One Man’s Story. KUNR.https://www.kunr.org/post/lgbtq-health-care-struggles-one-mans-story#stream/0 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1717014948 2021-09-05 02:39:02 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1717014948 lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1717036297 2021-09-05 03:08:30 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1717036297 Devorah, S. (2016, April 11). More Than a Band-Aid: LGBTQ Health Inequity. https://womenscenteratumbc.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/more-than-a-band-aid-lgbtq-health-inequity/ lkelvin0 https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1717037881 2021-09-05 03:11:04 UTC https://padlet.com/lkelvin0/b4lzewvx618bqali/wish/1717037881