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(Los Angeles, California) A survey of LGBT teenagers has found that 70 percent said most people they knew were aware of their sexual orientation, but only 35 percent reported that their doctor knew. The survey by the RAND Corporation and UCLA was released this month and based on a survey of 131 participants at the Models of Pride Youth Conference in 2003. Dr. Garth D. Meckler, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics with the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland , Oregon said the study is not necessarily representative of all LGBT youth, because of the nature of the conference - a forum on empowerment for gay youth. Still, he said that the survey results surprised researchers because of the low number of respondents who were out to their medical practitioners. “We knew that the sample that we chose was going to be a very ‘out’ sample,” Meckler said. “We figured they would have a higher disclosure rate than most youth, and yet, despite being out to almost everyone in their lives, only 35 percent had told their doctor about their sexual orientation.” The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the Society for Adolescent Medicine all recommend that physicians discuss sexuality with all adolescents and provide nonjudgmental communication about sexual orientation. This is important because if a physician is aware of an adolescent patient’s sexual orientation, the doctor can offer appropriate health education and counseling, identify individual risk, and perform targeted screening tests and treatment, Meckler said. Dr. Mark A. Schuster, senior author of the study and director of health promotion and disease prevention at RAND Health, said the study "is a reminder to physicians who take care of teens to try to create a comfortable, safe environment for young people to be open about their orientation, as well as other aspects of their sexuality.” Schuster is also a professor of pediatrics and public health at UCLA. Ninety percent of the teens had been to see a doctor in the past two years, and nearly two-thirds had gone within the past 12 months. But despite the fact that 66 percent thought it was very or somewhat important that their doctor know their sexual orientation in order to provide the best health care possible, only 35 percent said their physician knew their sexual orientation. Of those teens whose physician knew their sexual orientation, only 21 percent said their doctor had raised the topic. “One of the strongest predictors of whether or not the teens disclosed their sexual orientation was whether the physician had discussed sex with them at all,” Meckler said. “Very few physicians were regularly discussing sexuality, even though sex is one of the major developmental challenges and health risks at that age.” Physician bias also may play a role, Meckler said. Doctors are human beings, too, and “even though we have become a more open society in general, I think there’s a lot of stigma around non-heterosexual orientations.” Other reasons the teenagers gave for not disclosing their sexual orientation included: the fact that their parents were in the exam room with them; fear that the doctor would tell their parents their orientation; embarrassment; and fear that their doctor would disapprove. Schuster said doctors are supposed to let teens and their parents know up front that part of the examination will include time when the teen can talk to the doctor without a parent being in the room. “We want them to have a private time when they can open up, and discuss sex, drugs, violence, problems with their parents, anything,” said Schuster, a pediatrician. Sixty-four percent of the teens said physicians should “just ask me” about their sexual orientation, but Meckler and Schuster said this might not be the best tactic for teens who are not open about their sexual orientation. “Doctors can create a safe environment by not assuming the teen is heterosexual,” Schuster said. “Rather than ask a boy if he’s dating any girls, we should be open to all possibilities. That will send a message to a gay teen that this is a doctor who understands sexual orientation. It will also send a message to all teens that this is a doctor who will likely be comfortable talking about whatever the teen wants to discuss.” Putting lesbian, gay and bisexual literature in the waiting rooms and posting a sign indicating that the office does not discriminate and is a safe place to discuss any and all health concerns confidentially are other things doctors can do. Schuster said. Teens also reported that they would be more likely to disclose their sexual orientation if they were assured the doctor would not put it on their charts or tell their parents. ©365Gay.com 2006 |