Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Health Libraries Association, Saskatoon, May 2013.

1. Information Needs of LGBTQ
Health Professionals
Martin Morris • McGill University
K.R. Roberto • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2. 2
1
THE BACKGROUND
Why did we conduct this study?
2
THE RESULTS
What did we find out?
3
THE NEXT STEPS
What questions are raised by this study?

3. 3
THE BACKGROUND
WHY DIDWE DECIDETO
CONDUCTTHIS STUDY?
Fikar and Keith (2004) conducted
the first survey on this topic in 2003.
They noted no previous literature
on the topic.
We repeated their literature search
in late 2012 and found only the
Fikar and Keith study.
Much has changed in society since
2003, and we felt updated results
were required.
Fikar, C. R., & Keith, L. (2004).
Information needs of gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgendered health
care professionals: results of an
Internet survey. Journal of the Medical
Library Association, 92(1), 56–65.

4. 4
THE BACKGROUND
WHY DOESTHIS MATTER?
Medicine is perceived as having been almost silent
on the issue of equal access to healthcare for LGBTQ
people (Dohrenwend, 2009)
Medical curricula are considered to have insufficient
content on the distinct needs of LGBTQ patients
It is important for medical libraries to stay relevant
and to ensure that we are accessible to everyone in
our target audience.

5. 5
THE BACKGROUND
AN ISSUE OF ACCESS
• Paraphilias
• Homosexuality, Male
• Transgendered People

6. 6
THE BACKGROUND
AN ISSUE OF ACCESS
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms
Behavior
Sexual Behavior
Sexuality
Bisexuality
Heterosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality, Female
Homosexuality, Male

7. 7
THE BACKGROUND
AN ISSUE OF ACCESS
Mental Disorders
Sexual and Gender Disorders
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
Dyspareunia
Paraphilias
Exhibitionism
Fetishism (Psychiatric)
Masochism
Pedophilia
Transvestism
Voyeurism
Premature Ejaculation
Transsexualism
Vaginismus

8. 8
THE BACKGROUND
THE PURPOSES OFTHIS STUDY ARE …
• To get updated information as a follow-
up to the Fikar/Keith study
• To ask new questions about the health
information seeking needs of LGBTQ
health professionals
• To investigate the effect of changed
societal attitudes on this population

9. 9
THE BACKGROUND
METHODOLOGY
Web-based survey hosted
at McGill University
20 questions, some
modified from the 2003
study, and some new.
Promoted through related
medical organisations
(CMA, GMLA, GLADD etc.),
Facebook,Twitter, personal
contacts
Semi-structured email
follow-ups (in progress)

10. 10
THE RESULTS
WHO REPLIED? (#1)
Belgium 1
Eire 2
UK 2CanadaUSA
n = 120
87 28
We have so far
received 120 responses

11. 11
THE RESULTS
WHO REPLIED? (#2)
40
Lesbian
41
Gay
16
Bisexual
25
Queer Other
13
n = 120 (Some respondents identified as more than one category)
13107
Not transgender Transgender

12. 12
THE RESULTS
WHO REPLIED? (#3)
Mental Health 35
Family Medicine 11
“Medicine” 8
Academic/Research 6
Social Work 6
Nursing 5
Public Health 5
HIV 4
Obs/Gyn 4
Rehab/OT 4
Health Admin 4
Internal Medicine 4
Oncology 3
Alternative Medicine 2
PLUS:
Sexology, pharmacy, sexual
health, speech
therapy, dentistry, radiology,
massage therapy, transsexual
health, dermatology, geriatrics
, emergency
medicine, massage therapy…

13. 13
THE RESULTS
QUESTION 1
When you are searching for information to assist you
in making a clinical decision, and where you are not
able to easily find or use the necessary
resources, how likely is it that you would approach a
medical librarian for help under the following
circumstances:
a. if you were seeking information for the purposes
of a PATIENT’S care?
b. …and where is it necessary to include the idea of
being LGBTQ?
c. …and where you knew the librarian was LGBTQ?
“
”

14. 46% 49%47% 48%
60%
33%
Quite or very likely Quite or very unlikely
Just like in 2003, LGBTQ health professionals are
more likely to consult a medical librarian who is
also LGBTQ on an LGBTQ health topic.
14
THE RESULTS
SEEKING INFO FOR PATIENT CARE…
n = 120

15. 15
THE RESULTS
SEEKING INFO FOR PATIENT CARE…
“ LGBTQ information
is harder to find than
other medical
literature… ”
“ I generally assume that
medical librarians are not
adequately informed
about LGBTQ-specific
health information unless
they themselves identify
that way… ”
“ I would not expect a
straight librarian to
be on top of the
relevant research ”
“ The conversation is
always easier to have when
you don’t have to educate
before you can get the
required assistance ”

16. 54%
42.5%48.5% 47.5%
62%
33%
Would consult Would not consult
Just like in 2003, LGBTQ health professionals are
more comfortable consulting a medical librarian
who is also LGBTQ on an LGBTQ health topic.
16
THE RESULTS
SEEKING PERSONAL INFORMATION…
n = 120

17. 17
THE RESULTS
SEEKING INFO FOR PERSONAL INFO…
“ I wouldn’t want to out
myself to the librarian
unless I knew for sure
that they were LGBT, or
LGBT-friendly… ”
“ I think it is still much
easier to bring up LGBTQ
issues with someone else
you know [who] is
LGBTQ themselves or
is a known ally… ”
“ I generally see medical
librarians as very open-
minded, and […]
professional ”
“ If the librarian was
LGBTQ, I feel like they
might be able to more
effectively redirect me to
LGBTQ-related resources ”

18. For patient care…
Over one third of surveyed health pros say it is easier to consult
a medical librarian with LGBTQ health questions now compared to
10 years ago when asking for the care of a patient.
18
THE RESULTS
EASIER OVERTHE LAST 10YEARS?
44% Don’t know
37% Easier
12.5% About the same
6.5% Harder
n = 120

19. For personal info/for research…
Approaching half of surveyed health pros say it is easier to consult
a medical librarian with LGBTQ health questions now compared to
10 years ago when asking for personal reasons or for research.
19
THE RESULTS
EASIER OVERTHE LAST 10YEARS?
41.5% Don’t know
42% Easier
10% About the same
6.5% Harder n = 120

20. 20
THE RESULTS
DISTINCT INFORMATION NEEDS?
In your opinion, do LGBTQ health professionals
have distinct information needs?
64.5% (2003: 66.6%) Yes
25.6% (2003: 19.6%) No
9.9% Don’t know
n = 120
Almost two thirds of respondents believe that LGBTQ
health professionals have distinct information needs.

21. 21
THE RESULTS
DISTINCT INFORMATION NEEDS…
“ The substance abuse rate is so
much higher because of additional
pain, and I prefer providers who
understand that.
I don't like to be criticized for
being bi, and providers who
accept and actively support that
are a much better fit for me. I find
myself being more honest with
them, and therefore feeling more
comfortable and getting the best
medical care ”
“ It is challenging
to get information
on the specific
medical and
psychiatric needs
and up-to-date
research on LGBTQ
groups. ”

22. 22
THE RESULTS
DISTINCT INFORMATION NEEDS… (#2)
“ We need to be able
to access information
safely (without fear of
discrimination/homop
hobia) ”
“ […] interpersonal
violence, abuse, suicide,
drug/alcohol
use/misuse, homophobi
a, heterosexism, family
and couple issues ”
“ […] LGBTQ needs are
particular: question of
history, mental
health, specific physical
health needs and harm
reduction etc. ”
“ We need access to
journals that have not
typically been a part
of all medical
university holdings ”

23. Do online medical resources provide accurate
coverage of LGBTQ health issues?
23
THE RESULTS
ONLINE MEDICAL RESOURCES
15.8% Yes
55.8% No
28.4% Don’t know
n = 120
Well over half of respondents consider that online
medical resources do not provide accurate coverage
of LGBTQ health issues.

24. 24
THE RESULTS
GAPS IN ONLINE RESOURCES…
“ If they reference LGBTQ health issues at all, often they are
outdated or obviously biased opinions which have yet to catch up to
greater societal trends ”
“ […] you get a mix of approaches to gay identity or same-sex
behaviour - which are not synonymous. Also, sometimes it is difficult
to sort through different cultures and socio-political contexts[…]. It
sometimes takes quite a bit of effort to push through the weeds to
get to an acceptable answer ”
“ […] mostly because there is inadequate research on some topics
about LGBTQ medicine e.g. the prevalence of suicidal ideation and
attempts in adolescent young gay men ”
“ Limited resources on gay men (mostly about HIV and sex
practices), even fewer regarding lesbian women, and almost none
on trans issues ”

25. More appealing
25
THE RESULTS
CHATTING ONLINE (patient care)
n = 120
39.1%
17.0% 17.0%
39.1%
17.5%
Less appealing
39.1%
The option of online chat with the librarian is not more
attractive whatever the sensitivity of the enquiry.

26. 26
THE RESULTS
ONLINE CHAT, SOME COMMENTS…
“More convenient
for any
question, not
dependent on
LGBTQ needs”
“I think I might feel more
comfortable communicating
via chat in question 2
because anonymity feels
safer/less judge-y”
“More
appealing, only in
that I would not have
to leave my office or
home”
“Would help with
geographical issues
when working in
the rural setting”

27. 27
THE RESULTS
CHATTING ONLINE (own health/research)
More appealing
n = 120
43.3%
16.7% 15%
42.5%
17.5%
Less appealing
44.2%
The same observation applies for personal enquiries!

28. 28
THE RESULTS
ONLINE CHAT, MORE COMMENTS…
“online saves time”
“As a lesbian, I would prefer
to talk to another LGBTQ
person face-to-face, but if I
thought the librarian was
straight I might prefer the
anonymity of talking online”
“I prefer face-to-
face discussion”
“using "chat" services
with librarians is more
convenient as I am
rarely IN the library, but
most often at other
locations”

29. 29
THE RESULTS
IMPROVING OUR SERVICES
In your opinion, are there ways in which the services
of medical librarians could be changed to help
ensure they are perceived as more LGBTQ-friendly?
39.7% Yes
7.4% No
52.9% Don’t know
n = 120

30. 30
THE RESULTS
IMPROVING OUR SERVICES
“ More comprehensive
training around
resources, data
sources, and needs of
LGBTQ individuals ”
“ Have knowledge of
a broader range of
periodicals ”
“ The same way any service
could be changed to be
perceived as more LGBTQ-
friendly - visibility and
explicitly stating it ”
“ By putting resources
on the library website
that make it clear that
LGBT health science
information is available ”

31. 31
DISCUSSION
WHAT DOESTHIS ALL MEAN?
Attitudes have changed significantly but LGBTQ
health professionals still show a preference for
discussing some queries with an LGBTQ librarian.
…BUT, LGBTQ health professionals find it
significantly easier to raise these queries with
medical librarians than 10 years ago.
Online chat does not appear to be a particularly
attractive alternative for LGBTQ health pros who
may feel less comfortable raising LGBTQ health
information requests.

32. 32
DISCUSSION
WHAT DOESTHIS ALL MEAN?
LGBTQ health professionals have specific
information needs and a perception that these are
not adequately covered by available resources.
Many health professionals in this population would
like to see a broader range of journals for example.
There are various ways that libraries may like to
consider implementing to ensure that we serve all
sectors of our target population.

33. • Continue data analysis
• Carry on with email semi-
structured interviews
• Publish
33
FUTURE RESEARCH
NEXT STEPS

34. CREDITS
Images
“Colour Pencils-1” by David Blaikie (david.nikonvscanon) – Flickr
“Raised Hand” from blogs@CBU (blogs.cbu.ca/?p=1589)
References
Dohrenwend, A. (2009). Perspective: A grand challenge to academic medicine: speak out on gay
rights. Academic Medicine, 84(6), 788–792. doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181a3de9c
Eliason, M. J., Dibble, S. L., & Robertson, P. A. (2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
physicians' experiences in the workplace. Journal of Homosexuality, 58(10), 1355–1371.
doi:10.1080/00918369.2011.614902
Fikar, C. R., & Keith, L. (2004). Information needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered
health care professionals: results of an Internet survey. Journal of the Medical Library
Association, 92(1), 56–65.
Schuster, M. A. (2012). On being gay in medicine. Academic Pediatrics, 12(2), 75-8
34

35. Questions?