Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ - Coverage, Access, and Utilization of Evidence-Based Health Care

Course overview

This course is based upon material published by the National Academies Press and is available as an open access article. The importance of grounding clinical protocols and health-related policies on a firm evidence base is a central component of providing high quality care to sexual and gender diverse (SGD) people and developing effective strategies to improve SGD population health. Research indicates that access to adequate insurance coverage, culturally responsive providers, and high-quality, evidence-based health care services have the potential to significantly reduce the effects of health disparities on SGD populations. This course first reviews the literature on access to care, insurance coverage, and health services utilization in SGD populations. It then discusses in detail three topics that are particularly critical to ensure that clinical and policy approaches to health care for SGD populations are evidence based: gender-affirming care for transgender people, conversion therapy targeting sexual orientation or gender identity, and early genital surgeries for infants with intersex traits. This course on LGBTQI+ utilization of evidence-based health care is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop or increase their knowledge of LGBTQI+ health care. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal. Contributors: Patterson, Mart n-Jos Sep lveda, and White, Editors; Committee on Understanding the Well-Being of Sexual and Gender Diverse Populations; Committee on Population; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding LGBTQI+ health care. Specifically, a professional will: Recognize gender-affirming care for transgender people Describe the effectiveness of conversion therapy targeting sexual orientation or gender identity Summarize early genital surgeries for infants with intersex traits Citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2020. Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25877.