Interaction strategies of lesbian, gay, and bisexual healthcare practitioners in the clinical examination of patients: qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore how lesbian, gay, and bisexual healthcare practitioners manage their identity in the clinical examination of patients.


METHODS
Qualitative study using grounded theory.


METHODS
Hospital and primary health care.


METHODS
16 healthcare professionals who identified themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and are involved in the clinical examination of patients.


RESULTS
Healthcare professionals engage in a complex interplay of identity management strategies to avoid homophobic abuse; as a signal of safety from homophobia and understanding for their lesbian, gay, and bisexual patients and as a desexualisation strategy principally for gay men and their women patients. Their training has not helped them deal with ethical and medicolegal anxieties.


CONCLUSIONS
In the light of new legislation, published guidelines will help training and governing bodies understand and help ameliorate the added pressures on their lesbian, gay, and bisexual students and medical staff.
Riordan
Daniel C
DC
Department of Psychiatry, St George's Hospital Medical School, London SW17 ORE. driordan@sghms.ac.uk
D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*; D011364:Professional Practice; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D012650:Self Disclosure; D019529:Sexuality / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*