Assessment of Military Healthcare Providers Cultural Competence Caring for the LGB Active Duty Patient

58^th World Advanced Nursing and Nursing Practice Congress

August 16, 2021 | Webinar

Marguerite Lawrence

Columbus State University, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JNC

Abstract :

Census projections suggest that the U.S. population will grow to more than 130 million by 2030, and will approach 164 million by 2060. Current national estimates suggest that 2.6-4.9 million of the population will self-identify as lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB). Lack of knowledge of the health and well-being of the LGB population remains a significant shortcoming in health disparities research. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) found that the LGB population, when compared to heterosexuals, are at risk for the following high risk behaviors; smoking, excessive alcohol use, illegal drug use, suicide attempts, and depression. As research continues addressing the health disparities of the LGB population, there is a lack of scientific knowledge pertaining to the physical health care needs of the active duty LGB population. Only recently has the Department of Defense (DoD) identified LGB active duty service members as a population within the military health care system with unique health care needs. Like other healthcare systems, the Military Healthcare System (MHS) has begun to focus on the environment of care and specific needs of the LGB active duty service member. As the LGB active duty service members and L, G, B military dependents have started to seek care in the MHS, the MHS must be prepared to welcome and provide tailored services to the population. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to evaluate the effect of a tailored culturally competent intervention for the military health care providers caring for the LGB active duty service members.

Biography :

Marguerite Lawrence, DNP, FNP-BC, PHCNS-BC is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Columbus State University. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, she served over 20 years of active duty military service as a U.S. Army Family Nurse Practitioner and Public Health Clinical Nurse Specialist. Her clinical practice background includes a deployment to Baghdad Iraq, internal medicine, pediatrics, deployment health, occupational and community health and Department of the Army health promotion policy development. Her research interests include health care disparities.