Determining the attitudes of medicine faculty instructors towards LGBT individuals

Introduction and aim: Although lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) health problems of individuals is usually examined under headings such as depression, risky behavior and suicide attempts; in fact it varies from discrimination, contempt, anxiety disorders, negative attitude of health care providers, obesity, incapacity/ disability to inability benefitting from health insurance of sexual partners issues. HHomophobia have been identified as the one of first two causes of negative attitude of health care providers. That is why the aim of our study was to determine the attitudes towards LGBT people by the medical school faculty members who are the educators of physicians which is an important member of health care providers. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as cross-sectional. Hudson- Ricketts homophobia scale and a questionnaire prepared by us were applied to Dokuz Eylul University and Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University Medical School faculty members. Data was analyzed by SPSS 15 software. Results: The mean age was 47.8 ( min: 32- max: 66 ); 45.5% (n:106 ) were female; 78.5% (n:183) participants were working in Dokuz Eylül University; 51.5% (n:120 ) were working at non surgical medical departments 27.0% (n: 63 ) at surgical clinical departments and 21.5% (n:50 ) at basic sciences; 51.5% (n:120 ) were professors, 25.8 % (n:60 ) were associate professors, 22.7% (n:53) 233 assistant professors. 80.3% of respondents (n: 187 ) mentioned that they did not receive any training on LGBT individuals health; 90.1% (n:210 ) mentioned that they do not provide training on the subject; of the participants 25% severe, 50% moderately were found to be homophobic. Men, surgeons, assistant professors, those who are not educated or educating about LGBT health, working at a small university, those who examines LGBT patients rarely or never and those think who do not think thehere is discrimination against LGBT individuals were found more homophobic. Conclusion: The awareness of their negative attitudes towards LGBT individuals by the majority of faculty who are in the educational position of phsycians exhibits necessity for correcting the problem and is very important to be a role model for physician candidates. It should be provided the issue taking part its entitled place in medical school curricula.