Tollemache, Nicholas, Shrewsbury, Duncan and Llewellyn, Carrie (2021) Que(e) rying undergraduate medical curricula: a cross-sectional online survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer content inclusion in UK undergraduate medical education. BMC Medical Education, 21 (1). a100 1-12. ISSN 1472-6920

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB)

Abstract

Background
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals are more likely to have negative healthcare experiences and worse health outcomes when compared with their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. A key recommendation of the 2018 Stonewall-commissioned “LGBT in Britain” report was that the curricula, standards, and training provided by medical schools should be reviewed in order to encompass mandatory teaching about LGBT health inequalities and discrimination, LGBT-inclusive care and the use of appropriate language. The aim of our study was to conduct an in-depth national review of the content of LGBT teaching within the curricula of UK Medical Schools.

Methods
Course leads at all 37 UK Medical Schools with students currently enrolled in a primary undergraduate medical training course were asked between December 2019–March 2020 to complete a cross-sectional online survey comprised of 30 questions; divided into three sections relating to the current LGBT teaching (Part 1), any planned or future LGBT teaching (Part 2), and the opinions of the survey respondent about the coverage of LGBT topics (Part 3) at their institution. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results
Questionnaires were received from 19/37 institutions (response rate: 51%). The median estimated number of hours of LGBT-teaching across the entire undergraduate course was 11.0 (IQR: 12.25). Teaching on LGBT mental health, gender identity, sexual orientation, awareness of LGBT-health inequalities, and LGBT discrimination in healthcare were reported by almost all respondents, whilst maternity and childbirth, chronic disease and LGBT adolescent health were least represented within the curriculum. Almost all (18 medical schools; 95%) responding institutions were considering implementing new LGBT teaching within the next three academic years. A lack of space within the curriculum is a universally reported barrier to the implementation of LGBT teaching. Only 5 (26%) survey respondents consider their institution’s current coverage of LGBT topics to be “Good” or “Very good”.

Conclusion
Our study demonstrates a significant variation in the amount and breadth of content within the undergraduate curricula of UK medical schools. Recommendations for increasing the quantity and quality of LGBT content are provided, based upon areas of good practice.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Health inequalities, Healthcare, Inclusion, LGBTQ+ / lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, Medical education, Sexual orientation, Adolescent, Cross-Sectional Studies, Curriculum, Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Male, Pregnancy, Sexual Behavior, Sexual and Gender Minorities, Students, Transgender Persons, United Kingdom
Schools and Departments:	Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Primary Care and Public Health
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	03 Jun 2021 10:59
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2022 12:15
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/99585

View download statistics for this item

📧 Request an update