Impact of an LGBTQ Cultural Competence Training Program for Providers on Knowledge, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, and Intensions.

This paper describes the development and implementation of a robust lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) cultural competence curriculum for training health and human service providers across New York State. Between 2013-2018, The National LGBT Cancer Network developed and published Best Practices in Creating and Delivering LGBTQ Cultural Competency Trainings for Health and Social Service Agencies and designed a training curriculum. They also conducted Train the Trainer sessions, and evaluated pre- and post- curriculum knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intentions of individuals who attended educational sessions conducted by the certified trainers. Most respondents improved from pretest to posttest, with significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intentions. An increase in self-efficacy was significantly associated with pre- to posttest improvement in respondent intention. Future research should focus on what components specifically bolster self-efficacy and intention. Increasing the number of health and human service providers who are trained to address the needs of this population is an important step toward providing culturally competent care.

Developing Standards for Cultural Competency Training for Health Care Providers to Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual Persons: Consensus Recommendations from a National Panel.

Purpose: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and/or asexual and other sexual and gender diverse persons (LGBTQIA+ or SGD persons) experience barriers to equitable health care. The purpose of this article is to describe a collaborative process that resulted in core cultural competency recommendations addressing training for those who provide health care and/or social services to LGBTQIA+ patients. Methods: In 2018 and 2019, Whitman-Walker Health, a Federally Qualified Community Health Center in Washington, DC, and the National LGBT Cancer Network purposively selected leaders of community clinics and community-based organizations, cultural competency trainers, and clinicians and researchers with expertise in SGD health with diverse lived experiences to develop consensus-based cultural competency recommendations. Recommendations were developed through a synthesis of peer-reviewed studies, publicly accessible curricula, and evaluations of SGD cultural competency trainings; two in-person convenings; and iterative feedback from diverse stakeholders. Results: Five anchoring recommendations emerged: (1) know your audience; (2) develop and fine-tune the curriculum; (3) employ both adult and transformational learning theories; (4) choose multiple effective trainers; and (5) evaluate impact of training. These recommendations promote an ongoing process of individual and organizational improvement and a stance of humility rather than competence to be mastered. Conclusion: By setting core cultural competency standards for all persons involved in health care and social services, these recommendations complement existing clinical competency recommendations to advance SGD health equity.