title: Protective strategies of lesbian clients in health care environments.
abstract: In this triangulated, feminist narrative study, a multiethnic, socioeconomically diverse sample of 45 lesbians recounted their actions in health care in a total of 332 health care stories. Findings of a multistaged narrative analysis suggest that lesbians experience compounded vulnerability in health care environments. A repertoire of protective strategies intended to meet needs for safety characterized their actions in health care, including: rallying support, screening providers, seeking mirrors of one's experience, maintaining vigilance, controlling information, bringing a witness, challenging mistreatment, and escaping danger. Implications for theory and practice are drawn from these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Community, & Administrative Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0608.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012495:San Francisco; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors