Department of Family Science, University of Maryland, College Park, 1142 Valley Drive, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
University of Maryland Prevention Research Center, College Park, USA.
Prev Sci. 2024 Apr;25(Suppl 1):109-123. doi: 10.1007/s11121-023-01505-5. Epub 2023 Mar 10.
Despite significant social and legal progress, LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other sexual and gender minority) populations continue to experience higher rates of mental health and substance use disorders than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. Effective LGBTQ+ affirmative mental health care is essential for addressing these disparities but is often limited and difficult to access. The shortage of LGBTQ+ affirmative mental health care providers results from the absence of required and accessible LGBTQ+-focused training and technical assistance opportunities for mental health care professionals. This study evaluates the implementation of our COVID-19 adapted, completely virtual, organization- and therapist-focused training program to improve the mental health workforce's cultural competence in working with the LGBTQ+ community: the Sexual and Gender Diversity Learning Community (SGDLC). Guided by an expanded RE-AIM model, we used administrator and therapist feedback to assess SGDLC implementation factors to understand how it may be best translated for scaled-up promotion and widespread adoption. Assessment of the initial reach, adoption, and implementation of the SGDLC indicated that it had strong feasibility; reports on satisfaction and relevance support the SGDLC's acceptability. Maintenance could not be fully assessed from the short study follow-up period. Still, administrators and therapists expressed an intent to continue their newfound practices, a desire for continued training and technical assistance in this area, but also concerns about finding additional opportunities for this education.
尽管在社会和法律方面取得了重大进展,但 LGBTQ+(女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别和其他性少数群体)人群仍然比异性恋和顺性别者经历更高的心理健康和物质使用障碍率。有效的 LGBTQ+ 肯定性心理健康护理对于解决这些差异至关重要,但往往受到限制且难以获得。缺乏 LGBTQ+ 肯定性心理健康护理提供者是因为缺乏针对心理健康护理专业人员的必要和可获得的 LGBTQ+ 重点培训和技术援助机会。本研究评估了我们 COVID-19 适应的、完全虚拟的、以组织和治疗师为重点的培训计划的实施情况,以提高心理健康工作者在与 LGBTQ+ 社区合作方面的文化能力:性和性别多样性学习社区 (SGDLC)。本研究以扩展的 RE-AIM 模型为指导,利用管理员和治疗师的反馈来评估 SGDLC 的实施因素,以了解如何最好地将其推广和广泛采用。对 SGDLC 的初始覆盖范围、采用和实施的评估表明,它具有很强的可行性;对满意度和相关性的报告支持 SGDLC 的可接受性。由于短期研究随访期,无法对维持情况进行全面评估。尽管如此,管理员和治疗师表示有意继续他们新发现的实践,希望在该领域继续接受培训和技术援助,但也对寻找更多此类教育机会表示担忧。