BACKGROUND:
Lesbian,
bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women, as well as transgender men, are less likely
than their heterosexual and female-identifying counterparts to access cervical
cancer screening services. Although numerous factors that influence receipt of
cervical screening have been identified, several gaps in research and knowledge
merit additional research.
OBJECTIVE:
The
aims of this study were to examine cervical cancer screening behaviors of LBQ
women and transgender men using American Cancer Society guidelines as the
standards for comparison and to determine factors that influence participation
in cervical cancer screening.
METHODS:
A
convenience sample of 21- to 65-year-old LBQ women and transgender men was
recruited from the Internet and community events. Qualitative data were
collected through in-depth telephone interviews and open-ended questions on an
online questionnaire. A deductive-inductive content analysis approach was used.
RESULTS:
The
sample was mostly non-Hispanic white women who identified as lesbian. Most were
routine cervical cancer screeners. Eighteen factors/themes were identified in
the data and were contextualized within a health services theoretical framework.
CONCLUSIONS:
This
study showed that although some factors overlap with the general female
population, there are other areas that are specific to LBQ women and
transgender men. Creating welcoming and inclusive healthcare environments is
particularly important to facilitating cervical screening among LBQ women.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:
Nurse
leaders can modify clinical environments, and clinical nurses can be educated
to provide safe care for LBQ women and transgender men.
- 1Author Affiliations: College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Dr Johnson); College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (Drs Nemeth, Mueller, and Stuart); and Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, California (Dr Eliason).
- Cancer Nurs. 2016 Feb 8.
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