Deborah J. Bolding, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, San José State University, San José, CA;
Angela Acosta, MSOT, OTR/L, was Graduate Student, Department of Occupational Therapy, San José State University, San José, CA, at the time this study was conducted.
Am J Occup Ther. 2022 May 1;76(3). doi: 10.5014/ajot.2022.049065.
A lack of health care provider knowledge and training has been identified as one factor that contributes to health disparities for sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations.
To explore occupational therapy practitioners' self-reported knowledge about, clinical preparedness for, and attitudes toward working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clients.
Online survey of occupational therapy practitioners.
Respondents were recruited by means of snowball sampling through social media groups, state occupational therapy association websites, and emails. Surveys were posted to electronic occupational therapy social media sites.
Knowledge, clinical preparedness, and attitudes were measured using the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Development of Clinical Skills Scale (LGBT-DOCSS). Information about demographic characteristics, education, and workplace was also collected.
Five hundred eighty-nine occupational therapy practitioners responded to the survey. Degree level (master's vs. bachelor's or less), continuing education (minimum 1-2 hr of LGBT-specific training), practice setting (mental health), minority sexual orientation, and having a close friend or family member who identifies as SGM were associated with higher mean scores on the LGBT-DOCSS. Higher religiosity and frequency of religious practice were associated with lower scores on knowledge and attitudinal awareness.
Occupational therapy practitioners often care for clients from backgrounds and cultures that differ from their own. Identifying gaps in education and opportunities for fostering LGBT-positive attitudes can facilitate the development of programs to improve practice with LGBT clients and help measure the effectiveness of such programs. What This Article Adds: This study provides evidence that a basic level of continuing education can improve occupational therapy practitioners' knowledge of and skills for working with LGBT populations and highlights the need to examine and change structural biases.
缺乏医疗保健提供者的知识和培训已被确定为导致性和性别少数群体（SGM）人群健康差距的因素之一。
探讨职业治疗从业者对女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋和跨性别（LGBT）客户的知识、临床准备情况和工作态度的自我报告。
职业治疗从业者的在线调查。
通过社交媒体群组、州职业治疗协会网站和电子邮件，通过滚雪球抽样招募受访者。调查张贴在电子职业治疗社交媒体网站上。
使用女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋和跨性别发展临床技能量表（LGBT-DOCSS）衡量知识、临床准备情况和态度。还收集了人口统计学特征、教育和工作场所的信息。
589 名职业治疗从业者对调查做出了回应。学位水平（硕士与学士或以下）、继续教育（至少 1-2 小时的 LGBT 特定培训）、实践环境（心理健康）、少数民族性取向以及有亲密的朋友或家人是 SGM 身份与 LGBT-DOCSS 的平均得分较高相关。更高的宗教信仰和宗教实践频率与知识和态度意识得分较低相关。
职业治疗从业者经常照顾与自己背景和文化不同的客户。确定教育差距和培养 LGBT 积极态度的机会可以促进制定改善与 LGBT 客户合作的计划，并帮助衡量此类计划的效果。本文的意义在于：这项研究提供了证据表明，基本水平的继续教育可以提高职业治疗从业者为 LGBT 人群提供服务的知识和技能，并强调需要检查和改变结构性偏见。
