A Student-Led Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health for First-Year Medical Students.
OBJECTIVE
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals face significant health disparities. This is in part because many physicians are not sensitive to, and/or are underprepared to address, LGBT-specific concerns. To help meet this need, we, a group of second- and fourth-year medical students with faculty oversight, organized a session on LGBT health for first-year medical students.


METHODS
The three second-year and one fourth-year student authors designed a mandatory session for the 167 first-years at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH. The 2-hour session consisted of a student-delivered presentation, a patient panel, and a small-group session. Students' LGBT health knowledge and confidence in providing care were assessed anonymously before and after the session, and individuals' pre- and post-session assessments were paired using student-generated identifiers.


RESULTS
A total of 73 complete, matched pre-/post-session assessments were received. Students' familiarity with LGBT terminology and demographics increased significantly after the session. Students' perceived preparedness and comfort in providing LGBT-specific care significantly improved in most areas as well. Students strongly praised the session, in particular the patient panel.


CONCLUSIONS
A student-led educational session on LGBT health can effectively improve first-year medical students' LGBT knowledge and confidence to provide care.
Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles.
Andrea M
AM
Grosz
Daniel
D
Gutierrez
Andrea A
AA
Lui
Julia J
JJ
Chang
Kathy
K
Cole-Kelly
Henry
H
Ng
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000193:education*; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*