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Lesbians' Disclosure of Sexual Orientation and Satisfaction With Care

University of Delaware

Thomas L. Hardie, EdD, APRN-BC

University of Delaware

Evelyn M. Crowley, PhD

Private Consultant

The overarching aim of this study was to explore demographic variables and their association with a woman's disclosure of sexual orientation to a health care provider (HCP). This descriptive correlation study used a convenience sample of 96 women recruited at gay and lesbian community events held in Delaware. A self-report survey of 35 questions was used to obtain the data. None of the women identified themselves as exclusively heterosexual. The results indicate that a woman's self-identified sexual orientation is significant in predicting whether she has shared her orientation with her HCP. The more a woman's self-reported orientation moves toward the heterosexual end of the preference scale, the less likely she is to share her orientation with her HCP. Culturally competent care and a nondiscriminatory atmosphere will provide this population with the trust needed to enable open rapport with their HCPs.

Key Words: lesbian • disclosure • sexual orientation

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