Disclosure for same-sex attracted women enhancing the quality of the patient-doctor relationship in general practice.
BACKGROUND
Same-sex-attracted women describe lower satisfaction with their general practice care, compared with heterosexual women. Yet, they have greater health inequalities, which requires effective care. A lack of disclosure of sexual orientation to general practitioners (GPs) may be one factor influencing these issues.


METHODS
This study on the disclosure of sexual orientation by same-sex attracted women to their usual GP explored the impact of disclosure on the quality of the patient-doctor relationship. In-depth interviews with 33 same-sex-attracted women and 27 GPs in Australia were conducted during 2005-06. These interviews were analysed to understand the perspectives of the women and their GPs.


RESULTS
Disclosure in the context of provider sensitivity and normalisation enhanced the perceived quality of the patient-doctor relation-ship. Conversely, silencing of disclosure and pathologising of sexual orientation diminished the relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Facilitating disclosure should be a shared responsibility between same-sex attracted women and their usual GP. This must be accompanied by improved GP knowledge and affirming attitudes regarding specific health needs of same-sex attracted women.
MBBS, DRANZCOG, DA(UK), FRACGP, Senior Lecturer, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC.
Ruth
R
McNair
Kelsey
K
Hegarty
Angela
A
Taft
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult