title: Attitudes and knowledge among obstetrician-gynecologists regarding lesbian patients and their health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The lesbian patient population is underserved. Almost no research has examined the knowledge and attitudes of obstetrician-gynecologists toward lesbian health. Our study sought to address this research gap.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 910 obstetrician-gynecologists licensed in Ontario, Canada, were mailed a true-false survey about lesbian health issues, the Homosexuality Attitudes Scale (HAS), and a demographic survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 910 surveys, 271 were returned. The mean HAS score was 87.6 (standard deviation [SD] 11.5), indicating an overall positive attitude. The mean knowledge score was 76.0% (SD 9.5), indicating that respondents had adequate knowledge about lesbian health; 22% described their lesbian health knowledge-base as unaware. Most respondents reported lack of education on lesbian health in residency (81%) or medical school (78%). The majority reported a desire for formal education pertaining to lesbian health. There was no correlation between HAS and knowledge scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although our results indicate overall adequate knowledge about lesbian health issues, important knowledge gaps were identified. Medical school and residency training curricula should include formal education about lesbian health issues, particularly because most obstetrician-gynecologists report a desire to receive this information.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Régional Chaleur, Vitalité Health Networks, Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada.
authors.forename: Hasan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Abdessamad
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yudin
authors.forename: Lesley A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tarasoff
authors.forename: Kimberly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.forename: Lori E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics; D010361:Patients; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult