Abstract

This mixed-methodological study explores the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers (HCPs) and also gathers and analyzes their narrative experiences addressing the care needs of individuals who self-identify as LGBTQIA+. A s ociodemographic form, Knowledge and Practices to Address the Care Needs of LGBTQIA+ Individual Survey, and the Implicit Association T est ( Sexuality IAT and Transpictures IAT) were used as to collect quantitative data from 278 nurses and physicians. S emi-structured in-depth interviews were then held with 15 of these study participants.Quantitative findings revealed slight implicit attitudes favoring heterosexual and cisgender individuals, with education level and personal connections to LGBTQIA+ individuals positively associated with knowledge and with inclusive practices. Qualitative data analysis yielded three themes: (i) Lack of cultural competence in services, (ii) Structural and systemic heterosexism, and (iii) Awareness of Barriers to formal healthcare-seeking: Stigma and Exclusion. The outcomes of this study underscore the need for enhanced training, inclusive curricula, and culturally humble healthcare provision to address HCPs' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding LGBTQAI+ healthcare.

Author Details

Seda Karakaya Çataldaş, PhD, is an Assistant professor at Koç University School of Nursing in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing. Her research area mainly focuses on gender studies, especially LGBTQ+ studies, psychodrama, and art therapy; Dr. Çataldaş focuses on novel education methods in her studies, especially using psychodrama. She is conducting group sessions with vulnerable groups to prevent stigmatization. She is also a ''Federation of European Psychodrama Training Organisations (FEPTO)-Approved'' psychodramatist and art therapist. She is a board member of the Turkish Psychiatric Nurses Association.

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Lead Author Affiliation

KOC University, Istanbul, Turkey

Type

Report

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Exploratory

Research Approach

Mixed/Multi Method Research

Keywords:

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, LGBTQLA+, Health Care, Nurses, Physicians, Mixed Methods

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Sigma Grant Recipient Report

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Full Text of Presentation

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Available for download on Tuesday, August 11, 2026

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