Traversing barriers to health care among LGBTQ+ Latinx emerging adults: Utilizing patient experiences to model access
Enduring multiple sources of marginalization, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) youth of color living at the United States-Mexico border navigate stigma and health challenges surrounding their LGBTQ+ and ethnic identities. This study sought to delineate barriers to health care experienced by marginalized young adult patients.
We qualitatively examined the patient experiences of 41 LGBTQ+ Latinx young adults (ages 18-24) in the Rio Grande Valley between 2016 and 2017. Often tied to their experiences of emerging adulthood, most respondents emphasized how financial barriers, including cost of services and disruptions to insurance status, prevented them from seeking care (barriers to care). However, youth also underscored how prior patient experiences tied to their ethnic and LGBTQ+ identities, including apprehension discussing their sexuality with care providers (barriers within care), shaped their health care seeking strategies. This study utilized patient experiences to delineate potential sources of barriers to care experienced by LGBTQ+ Latinx young adults. Practitioners should seek to actively create inclusive and identity-affirming care environments and be sensitive to how prior negative experiences may be deterring young adult patients from seeking care or revealing personal details during the care encounter. If we are to better model access, we need to consider the patient experiences of diverse populations.
Related content
-
Patient Family & Community Engagement | Staff & Provider Engagement
Round & Coach: Engaging Clinicians & Patients to Improve Communication and Care
This webinar presents four ways BSWH Hillcrest Medical Center improved HCAHPS scores to the 90th percentile. Discover how they incorporated elements of Relationship-Centered Communication to improve nurse and doctor communication. Learn how they engaged patients through consistent rounding. Key takeaways also include how capturing real-time patient feedback contributed to their overall success. Learning Objectives –
Learn more -
Innovation & Technology | Patient Family & Community Engagement
Why it’s Vital to Adopt an Aggressive Patient Experience Strategy
Patient experience is becoming increasingly vital to healthcare providers for many reasons, and traditional CX technologies are helping healthcare organizations improve. Healthcare is already spending more than most industries on CX or patient experience technologies, but Metrigy’s research data shows the need for an increased focus on four technologies that promise high return on investment.
Learn more -
Culture & Leadership | Patient Family & Community Engagement
We’re All Emotional Beings: That’s What It Is to Be Human
Ben Larsen, Experience Advisor at Baylor Scott & White Health, discusses the significance of human connection and the relationships we build with patients. Listen as he talks about communicating in service of a relationship, origin stories and the importance of practicing compassion and empathy.
Learn more