Abstract:
This research explored baby boomer gay men\'s experiences with primary healthcare and their perspectives of future long-term care. Baby boomer gay men\'s perspectives about primary healthcare remain understudied in the United States. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with 30 baby boomer men in the Southwest USA. We used semi-structured interviews to assess participants\' initiation and maintenance of primary healthcare, disclosure of sexual orientation to providers, and perspectives about future healthcare needs, including long-term care. Data were analyzed with a latent thematic analysis. We found baby boomer gay men anticipate discrimination because of their sexual orientation whenever they establish healthcare with new providers. Participants identified circumstantial comfort in the new healthcare setting as a key motivator to disclose their sexual orientation. Thus, baby boomer gay men specifically sought gay or gay-friendly healthcare providers to ease the burden of managing disclosure and to permit free discussion of their sexual orientation and healthcare needs. Participants faced recurring anticipation of rejection and discrimination from healthcare providers, which extends to their perceptions of current healthcare encounters and future long-term care placement. Healthcare providers would benefit from understanding the practice implications of this dynamic. Future research on primary healthcare inclusivity is needed.
摘要:
这项研究探讨了婴儿潮一代男同性恋者在初级医疗保健方面的经验以及他们对未来长期护理的看法。在美国,婴儿潮一代男同性恋者对初级医疗保健的观点仍未得到充分研究。对美国西南部30名婴儿潮一代男性进行了描述性定性研究。我们使用半结构化访谈来评估参与者对初级医疗保健的启动和维护,向提供者披露性取向,以及对未来医疗保健需求的展望,包括长期护理。用潜在主题分析对数据进行了分析。我们发现,每当与新的提供者建立医疗保健时,婴儿潮一代的男同性恋者都会因为性取向而受到歧视。参与者将新医疗保健环境中的间接舒适度确定为公开其性取向的关键动机。因此,婴儿潮一代男同性恋者特别寻求同性恋或同性恋友好的医疗保健提供者,以减轻管理披露的负担,并允许自由讨论他们的性取向和医疗保健需求。参与者面临医疗保健提供者的拒绝和歧视的反复预期,这延伸到他们对当前医疗保健遭遇和未来长期护理安置的看法。医疗保健提供者将受益于理解这种动态的实践含义。需要对初级医疗保健包容性进行未来研究。