TY - JOUR
AU - P. Buckingham
AU - A. Bourne
AU - R. McNair
AU - A. O. Hill
AU - A. Lyons
AU - M. Carman
AU - N. Amos
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Lesbian, bisexual+ and queer (LBQ+) cisgender women have considerable unmet mental health needs. The aims of this study were to examine LBQ+ cisgender women's prior engagement with general practitioners (GPs), and how this relationship shaped their mental health service use. METHOD: Data from 2707 cisgender LBQ+ women were drawn from a national survey of adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer or questioning, asexual and other diverse sexuality and gender identities (LGBTIQA+) in Australia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined demographic predictors of continuity of care with GPs and GPs' awareness of LBQ+ women's sexual orientation. The relationship between these variables and recent mental health service use was then analysed, comparing LBQ+ women's engagement with services known to be LGBTIQA+ inclusive and those without an inclusive reputation. RESULTS: LBQ+ cisgender women with a regular GP had greater odds of having accessed mental health services in the last 12months. Two-thirds had a regular GP, with the lowest odds among women aged 18-35years and highest odds among women with a disability. LBQ+ women who did not believe their regular GP knew of their sexuality had lower odds of having accessed LGBTIQA+ inclusive mental health services. These individuals were typically aged below 25years, bisexual+ or queer identified, had below undergraduate-level education, earned <$2000 AUD per week, or lived in an outer-suburban or regional area. CONCLUSION: GPs may be missing opportunities to promote continuity of care through developing trusting relationships with specific sub-populations of LBQ+ women, which in turn appears to sustain inequitable access to mental health care. To offer appropriate care and referrals for this population, GPs should provide safe and inclusive environments to enable comfortable and supportive discussions about sexual orientation when this is relevant to a person's health care.
AD - Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, <city>Melbourne</city>, <state>Vic.</state>, Australia; and Department of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, <city>Melbourne</city>, <state>Vic.</state>, Australia.; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, <city>Melbourne</city>, <state>Vic.</state>, Australia; and Kirby Institute, UNSW, <city>Sydney</city>, <state>NSW</state>, Australia.; Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, <city>Melbourne</city>, <state>Vic.</state>, Australia.; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, <city>Melbourne</city>, <state>Vic.</state>, Australia; and Graduate School of Public Health, St Luke's International University, <city>Tokyo</city>, Japan.; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, <city>Melbourne</city>, <state>Vic.</state>, Australia.
AN - 37574262
BT - Aust J Prim Health
C5 - Healthcare Disparities; Education & Workforce
CP - 1
DA - Feb
DO - 10.1071/py23001
DP - NLM
IS - 1
JF - Aust J Prim Health
LA - eng
N2 - BACKGROUND: Lesbian, bisexual+ and queer (LBQ+) cisgender women have considerable unmet mental health needs. The aims of this study were to examine LBQ+ cisgender women's prior engagement with general practitioners (GPs), and how this relationship shaped their mental health service use. METHOD: Data from 2707 cisgender LBQ+ women were drawn from a national survey of adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer or questioning, asexual and other diverse sexuality and gender identities (LGBTIQA+) in Australia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined demographic predictors of continuity of care with GPs and GPs' awareness of LBQ+ women's sexual orientation. The relationship between these variables and recent mental health service use was then analysed, comparing LBQ+ women's engagement with services known to be LGBTIQA+ inclusive and those without an inclusive reputation. RESULTS: LBQ+ cisgender women with a regular GP had greater odds of having accessed mental health services in the last 12months. Two-thirds had a regular GP, with the lowest odds among women aged 18-35years and highest odds among women with a disability. LBQ+ women who did not believe their regular GP knew of their sexuality had lower odds of having accessed LGBTIQA+ inclusive mental health services. These individuals were typically aged below 25years, bisexual+ or queer identified, had below undergraduate-level education, earned <$2000 AUD per week, or lived in an outer-suburban or regional area. CONCLUSION: GPs may be missing opportunities to promote continuity of care through developing trusting relationships with specific sub-populations of LBQ+ women, which in turn appears to sustain inequitable access to mental health care. To offer appropriate care and referrals for this population, GPs should provide safe and inclusive environments to enable comfortable and supportive discussions about sexual orientation when this is relevant to a person's health care.
PY - 2024
SN - 1448-7527
SP - Null
ST - The influence of care continuity and disclosure of sexual orientation in general practice on lesbian, bi+ and queer cisgender women's engagement with mental health services
T1 - The influence of care continuity and disclosure of sexual orientation in general practice on lesbian, bi+ and queer cisgender women's engagement with mental health services
T2 - Aust J Prim Health
TI - The influence of care continuity and disclosure of sexual orientation in general practice on lesbian, bi+ and queer cisgender women's engagement with mental health services
U1 - Healthcare Disparities; Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1071/py23001
VL - 30
VO - 1448-7527
Y1 - 2024
ER -