title: The lived experience of college student lesbians' encounters with health care providers. A preliminary investigation.
abstract: The purpose of this preliminary study was to explore the lived experience of four self-identified college student lesbians coming out and their encounters with health care providers. This study used a qualitative method of phenomenology for data collection and analysis. Results of the study revealed a phenomenological model that embodied the core theme of navigating self-disclosure. Two major themes stemming from the core theme were also uncovered. Navigating self-disclosure in homophobic waters and navigating self-disclosure encounters with health care providers unveiled a continuum of self-disclosure to nondisclosure experiences encountered by lesbians. Strategies are offered to enhance interactions between lesbians and health care providers in primary and acute care settings.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Human Services, Department of Nursing, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Williams-Barnard
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Shippee-Rice
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D009511:New England; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D016387:Women's Health