Abstract
Despite advancements aiming to promote better inclusion of LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals in our nation, there still remains to be a great deal of discrimination towards this population, particularly within our healthcare system. LGBTQIA+ individuals in our nation still presently continue to face discrimination across different aspects of society (Medina and Mahowald, 2024).
The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of LGBTQIA+ parents in pediatric healthcare settings and the ways in which those experiences impact LGBTQIA+ parents' trust in their children’s healthcare providers. In order to better address the needs of LGBTQIA+ parents within our nation’s healthcare system, we must first begin to understand the bias and perceived discrimination they have faced and how this in turn may impact their ability to trust and sustain confidence in American healthcare providers. An online Qualtrics survey, consisting of multiple choice questions and free response questions, will be distributed via Facebook groups for LGBTQIA+ identifying parents, through emails to various national and state-level LGBTQIA+ organizations, and through a flier with a QR code linked to the survey posted in several pediatric healthcare settings. The multiple choice survey questions consist of demographic questions, a section of questions including statements to be rated utilizing a five-point scale to quantify experiences of perceived bias and discrimination, and another section utilizing a five-point scale utilizing a modified version of the Trust in Physician Scale(Anderson & Dedrick, 1990) to quantify parents’ trust levels in their children’s providers. The five-point scale for the bias and discrimination questions is also a modified version of a scale utilized in a similar study that looked to examine the experiences of LGBTQIA+ identifying critically ill patients and their caregivers with their healthcare providers (Stein et al., 2023). There are three optional free-response questions at the end of the survey asking the parents’ to describe one positive and one negative experience in relation to their identity as an LGBTQIA+ identifying parent, and one additional question asking about their generalized experience as an LGBTQIA+ identifying parent. The survey will remain open through January and February 2025 and will close in the beginning of March.
Notes
References:
Anderson, L.A., Dedrick, R.F. (1990). Development of the trust in physician scale: A measure to assess interpersonal trust in patient-physician relationships. Psychological Reports, 67, 1091-1100.
Medina, C., & Mahowald, L. (2024). Discrimination and barriers to well-being: The state of the LGBTQI+ community in 2022. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/discrimination-and-barriers-to-well-being-the-state-of-the-lgbtqi-community-in-2022/
Stein, G. L., Berkman, C., Acquaviva, K., Woody, I., Godfrey, D., Javier, N. M., O’Mahony, S., González-Rivera, C., Maingi, S., Candrian, C., & Rosa, W. E. (2023). Project Respect: Experiences of seriously ill LGBTQ+ patients and partners with their health care providers. Health Affairs Scholar, 1(4). https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxad049
Sigma Membership
Beta Kappa
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, DEI/BIPOC, Pediatrics, LGBTQIA+, Parent Experiences
Recommended Citation
Figgins, Nakayla Renae and Apple, Ashley, "LGBTQIA+ Identifying Parents' Experiences of Bias and Discrimination in Pediatric Healthcare" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 105.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/105
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
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.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
LGBTQIA+ Identifying Parents' Experiences of Bias and Discrimination in Pediatric Healthcare
Seattle, Washington, USA
Despite advancements aiming to promote better inclusion of LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals in our nation, there still remains to be a great deal of discrimination towards this population, particularly within our healthcare system. LGBTQIA+ individuals in our nation still presently continue to face discrimination across different aspects of society (Medina and Mahowald, 2024).
The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of LGBTQIA+ parents in pediatric healthcare settings and the ways in which those experiences impact LGBTQIA+ parents' trust in their children’s healthcare providers. In order to better address the needs of LGBTQIA+ parents within our nation’s healthcare system, we must first begin to understand the bias and perceived discrimination they have faced and how this in turn may impact their ability to trust and sustain confidence in American healthcare providers. An online Qualtrics survey, consisting of multiple choice questions and free response questions, will be distributed via Facebook groups for LGBTQIA+ identifying parents, through emails to various national and state-level LGBTQIA+ organizations, and through a flier with a QR code linked to the survey posted in several pediatric healthcare settings. The multiple choice survey questions consist of demographic questions, a section of questions including statements to be rated utilizing a five-point scale to quantify experiences of perceived bias and discrimination, and another section utilizing a five-point scale utilizing a modified version of the Trust in Physician Scale(Anderson & Dedrick, 1990) to quantify parents’ trust levels in their children’s providers. The five-point scale for the bias and discrimination questions is also a modified version of a scale utilized in a similar study that looked to examine the experiences of LGBTQIA+ identifying critically ill patients and their caregivers with their healthcare providers (Stein et al., 2023). There are three optional free-response questions at the end of the survey asking the parents’ to describe one positive and one negative experience in relation to their identity as an LGBTQIA+ identifying parent, and one additional question asking about their generalized experience as an LGBTQIA+ identifying parent. The survey will remain open through January and February 2025 and will close in the beginning of March.
Description
A research study looking to examine the extent to which LGBTQIA+ identifying parents residing in the United States face perceived bias and discrimination in pediatric healthcare settings and their overall trust levels in their children's providers through an online survey.