“Treat Me with Respect”: Older Sexual Minority Men’s Interactions with Healthcare Providers

TL;DR

This study explores how older sexual minority men feel when interacting with healthcare providers, finding that respectful and attentive care improves comfort, while bias and poor attitudes reduce it.

Contribution

The study identifies specific provider behaviors that enhance or hinder comfort among older sexual minority men in healthcare settings.

Findings

Providers who listen and show attentiveness increase comfort among older sexual minority men.

Experiencing bias related to sexual orientation or HIV status decreases comfort during healthcare interactions.

Negative provider demeanor or attitude is a major factor in discomfort for these patients.

Abstract

Engagement with the healthcare system, including interactions with healthcare providers, can have a critical impact on health outcomes. For marginalized communities, experiences with healthcare providers may be more challenging to navigate. The purpose of this study was to explore older sexual minority (SM) men’s experiences of their interactions with healthcare providers. Data for this study originated from the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (Stigma and Non-Communicable Syndemic Sub-Study). Participants (N = 887) were asked to use open-text responses included in a survey to describe times when they felt a) the most comfortable and b) least comfortable in their interactions with a healthcare provider. Data consisted of unstructured, free-text responses, which was analyzed using content analysis and organized into themes. The average age of participants was 60.7 (SD = 12.7) years; 69% identified as White, 10% were Hispanic; and 54% were living with HIV. Results showed that themes describing most comfortable interactions included: 1) having a provider that “listens and is attentive”; 2) “takes questions and concerns seriously”; 3) “discusses personal issues outside of health”; 4) “cares for the person as a whole”. Themes describing least comfortable interactions included: 1) “experiencing bias” around sexual orientation and HIV status and 2) “negative provider demeanor/attitude”. Outcomes from this work highlight that for older SM men there are specific characteristics that support feeling comfortable when interacting with a healthcare provider. These findings provide useful information that can inform and guide the implementation of policies and procedures in healthcare settings that serve a diverse older adult population.