Healthcare Provider Training on LGBTQIA+ Health: An Introductory Module is an innovative learning module that promotes LGBTQIA+ inclusive care, transforming healthcare standards.
In an effort to bridge the gaps in healthcare standards, a groundbreaking interactive learning module was created by Pitt Nursing faculty with input from key stakeholders to equip healthcare providers and students with best practices in LGBTQIA+ health. This module, created through qualitative analysis involving Pitt Nursing students and faculty, LGBTQIA+ faculty and staff, and gender care healthcare providers, aims to revolutionize healthcare education and improve the quality of care for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
“The reason this module was created is because there are no curricular guidelines to ensure that inclusive care of LGBTQIA+ individuals is covered in nursing curriculum,” said Brenda Cassidy, DNP, RN, Associate Professor at the School of Nursing. “This gap in educational content and implicit bias of healthcare providers due to a lack of training contributes to continued health disparities in this population. Our focus groups revealed that the content was lacking in our curriculum and faculty and students felt that education about the health needs of LGBTQIA+ patients is essential to provide inclusive care to this vulnerable population. More education was needed to reduce stigma and discrimination associated within this community.”
The online-interactive-module was recently piloted with undergraduate and graduate nursing students, showcasing remarkable outcomes. The participants demonstrated substantial changes in knowledge, attitudes, and clinical preparedness, validating the module’s effectiveness in promoting inclusive care. It is now copyrighted and is being widely disseminated with an accompanying resource toolbox on LGBTQIA+ health and is being used in undergraduate and graduate nursing DEI courses in the School of Nursing.
Moreover, the module was selected as part of an IRB (Institutional Review Board) approved educational research study in collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and Louisiana State University Health New Orleans Schools of Nursing. This ambitious four-year project encompasses not only the module, but also an advocacy program and simulations specifically designed for undergraduate nursing students. With the potential to reach 1000 nursing students annually in both schools, this initiative aims to instill a culture of inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ individuals among the future nursing workforce.
“Health equity is possible by addressing this educational gap of inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ individuals in all healthcare curricula,” said Cassidy.
The impact of this transformative module extends beyond the participating institutions. Baylor University has embraced the module for its students, and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) has made it available to pediatric nurse practitioners. Additionally, the module and toolbox have become invaluable educational tools in various DNP projects within a health department and an outpatient behavioral health clinic and aim to empower nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver equitable care to LGBTQIA+ individuals. These projects, module and toolbox have been presented nationally, regionally, and locally and have the potential to improve health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
“As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, this innovative learning module paves the way for a more inclusive and compassionate approach to healthcare,” said Cassidy.
Feel free to access and share the module and toolbox at the links below:
Learning Module:
https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cUeB9ZKogk1uNqB
Resource Toolbox:
https://lgbtqresourcetoolbox.wixsite.com/homepage
For any questions about the module development and use, contact Brenda Cassidy at cassb@pitt.edu