Background: Disparities in health care among lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) communities have been researched in primary care, but few have examined these phenomena among LGBT inpatients.
Methods: Descriptive correlational study. A questionnaire was emailed to an LGBT population for a total of 508 participants. Questionnaires addressed level of satisfaction with hospital employees and whether this was related to their sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI). Descriptive statistics describe participants and hospitals. χ2 was used to examine satisfaction and belief based on SOGI, recommendation to LGBT friends, and the relationship between location and likelihood of recommendation.
Results: Those reporting dissatisfaction were likely to indicate it was related to their SOGI. They were less likely to recommend the hospital to LGBT friends or family. Analysis between location and recommendation identified rural hospitals as less likely to be recommended.
Discussion: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender patients perceived lack of courtesy by hospital employees to be related to their SOGI.
Keywords: LGBT; health equity; health-care professionals; inpatient care; patient satisfaction.
© The Author(s) 2018.
