title: Lesbians' disclosure of sexual orientation and satisfaction with care.
abstract: The overarching aim of this study was to explore demographic variables and their association with a woman's disclosure of sexual orientation to a health care provider (HCP). This descriptive correlation study used a convenience sample of 96 women recruited at gay and lesbian community events held in Delaware. A self-report survey of 35 questions was used to obtain the data. None of the women identified themselves as exclusively heterosexual. The results indicate that a woman's self-identified sexual orientation is significant in predicting whether she has shared her orientation with her HCP. The more a woman's self-reported orientation moves toward the heterosexual end of the preference scale, the less likely she is to share her orientation with her HCP. Culturally competent care and a nondiscriminatory atmosphere will provide this population with the trust needed to enable open rapport with their HCPs.
authors.affiliation: University of Delaware, USA.
authors.forename: Carolee A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Polek
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hardie
authors.forename: Evelyn M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Crowley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003691:Delaware; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011287:Prejudice; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology