Lesbian and Queer-identified women face significant health disparities compared to their heterosexual counterparts. McKetta et al. (2024) found that lesbian and bisexual women report more alcohol and tobacco use and have an increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease compared with heterosexual counterparts. Due to the large number of lesbian and queer-identified women residing in the Coachella Valley Region, a study was conducted regarding their healthcare experiences.
Of the 221 participants, most identified as White, middle class, and middle-aged. When asked about their gender presentation, 59.7% considered themselves feminine presenting. The survey consisted of 17 items. Four questions were open-ended, addressing attitudes towards lesbian healthcare providers, healthcare experiences, ignoring symptoms of illness, and delaying care.
Results indicated 57% of participants regularly seek preventative medical care. When asked about the factors contributing to delays in seeking medical attention, 27.6% of respondents cited comfort level with physicians, followed by a lack of trust in medical professionals (24.4%) and concerns about costs (20.8%). Forty-one percent cited other reasons, such as inaccessibility to healthcare and time constraints. Most emphasized the importance of having an out-lesbian doctor, citing three main themes: relational empathy, comfort, and inclusivity.
When reporting why they delayed seeking medical attention or ignored symptoms, participants noted factors such as inaccessibility of healthcare, concerns of mistreatment, avoidance, urgency of symptoms, and inconvenience. Three main themes identified among participants relating to healthcare experiences included inaccessibility of healthcare, negative experiences with doctors, and belief that they would benefit from having a lesbian doctor.
These findings highlight the need for inclusive healthcare professionals. Lesbian and queer-identified women expressed a preference for having a lesbian doctor, as it fosters relational empathy, comfort, and inclusivity. Ultimately, they are more likely to seek care from providers and environments where they feel comfortable. Due to the WEIRD sample representation, efforts are underway to collect data from Spanish-speaking populations to ensure findings can be generalized to a broader group of women. The ultimate goal is to provide comprehensive care by removing barriers and fostering healthcare environments where women feel at ease.