Physician awareness of sexual orientation and preventive health recommendations to men who have sex with men. Sex Transm Dis 2011 Jan;38(1):63-7
Date
08/14/2010Pubmed ID
20706178Pubmed Central ID
PMC4141481DOI
10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181ebd50fScopus ID
2-s2.0-78650815262 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 175 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have unique health risks and needs. Providers who assume patients to be heterosexual may be providing suboptimal care. This study sought (1) to describe primary care provider (PCP) knowledge of patients' sexual orientation and the demographic and provider-related factors associated with such knowledge; and, (2) to assess whether PCP knowledge of sexual orientation was associated with appropriate recommendations for preventive and diagnostic health care services.
METHODS: A total of 271 MSM completed a cross-sectional survey. We measured MSMs' disclosure of their sexual orientation and demographic information, and PCP recommendations for preventive health services.
RESULTS: Most participants' PCPs (72%) knew the participants' sexual orientation. Participants with female, gay, and/or younger PCPs were more likely to have disclosed their sexual orientation. Black men, men from rural areas, and men with incomes under $15,000 per year were less likely to have disclosed their sexual orientation. PCP knowledge of sexual orientation was associated with a higher likelihood that PCPs recommended disease screening and preventive health measures: 59% versus 13% for human immunodeficiency virus testing, 32% versus 16% for hepatitis A or B vaccination. Inconsistencies were found between participants' self-reported risk behaviors and PCP recommendations.
CONCLUSIONS: Disclosure of sexual orientation is associated with several patient-related and provider-related characteristics. Lack of disclosure to providers significantly decreased the likelihood that appropriate health services were recommended to participants. Efforts to promote discussion of sexual orientation within the primary health care setting should be directed toward both PCPs and MSM.
Author List
Petroll AE, Mosack KEAuthors
Katie Mosack PhD Associate Professor in the Psychology department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeAndrew Petroll MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
HIV Infections
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Physician-Patient Relations
Physicians
Preventive Health Services
Primary Health Care
Sexual Behavior
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Truth Disclosure
Young Adult
