Queer Healthcare Communication

Abstract

Queer healthcare communication spans different literature and topic areas. The medicalization of queer bodies has historically and continues to influence how queer individuals interact and communicate within healthcare settings. Further, heterosexism is rampant within medical institutions that perpetuate the idea that all patients are heterosexual. Because of the influence of heterosexism, medical schools are designed to ignore queer bodies. If queer bodies are acknowledged, they are positioned as something exotic and not presented as a typical patient. Heterosexism is further communicated in patient and provider interactions by providers assuming their patients’ heterosexual identity and assuming all queer patients are promiscuous. In turn, queer patients may make decisions about their healthcare based on providers’ heterosexist attitudes. Providers who practice medicine have also demonstrated their limited knowledge about queer patients and how to care for them. The literature on discrimination of queer patients focuses more on how providers have used both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. In looking at queer discrimination, queer invisibility demonstrates more covert functions of healthcare communication. Due to the invisibility of queer patients, disclosure becomes a site of interest for researchers. While some queer patients try to seek out queer-friendly providers, researchers have given recommendations on how healthcare providers can improve their queer competency. Finally, some notable topics within queer healthcare communication include queer pregnancy, HIV, and why transgender identity should be a separate topic as transgender people have their own healthcare needs.

Family-Centered Care for LGBTQ+ Parents of Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Integrative Review

“…The following supporting information can be downloaded at h ps://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/children11060615/s1, Figure S1: Studies that initially appeared to meet inclusion criteria during the screening phase but were excluded after assessment for eligibility. References [70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84] are cited in Supplementary Materials.…”

“Being Sick Does Not Define You”: Communicated Narrative Sense-Making of Autoimmune Disease in Emerging Adult Women in the U.S.

“…Henry’s narrative highlights both unique (and compounding) healthcare dilemmas for patients who are trans, non-binary, and gender diverse (Baker, 2022; Baker et al, 2023; Hudak, 2021). Trans patients and AFAB patients both experience stigma in healthcare interactions that often attribute their symptoms to psychiatric cause, resulting in patients having to employ discursive strategies to receive the care that they need (Baker et al, 2023; Thompson et al, 2023).…”

“…Recognizing the complexities of illness for AFAB individuals who identify as male and/or non-binary, we suggest Hudak (2021) and Baker (2022) for further reading on LGBTQ+ healthcare experiences.…”

“…We received approval from our participant who identifies as male to use the term “women” throughout the manuscript. Recognizing the complexities of illness for AFAB individuals who identify as male and/or non-binary, we suggest Hudak (2021) and Baker (2022) for further reading on LGBTQ+ healthcare experiences.…”