O'Sullivan Lauren, Zayhowski Kimberly, Hoffman Eileen, Carmichael Nikkola
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
J Genet Couns. 2023 Dec;32(6):1200-1212. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1760. Epub 2023 Aug 13.
Research has shown that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQIA+) healthcare students experience discrimination during admissions and training. While several studies have examined the experiences of racial and ethnic minorities within the genetic counseling field, the admissions experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals have not been explored. Through semi-structured interviews, this qualitative study investigated the experiences of ten LGBTQIA+ genetic counselors and genetic counseling students during graduate school admissions. Interview questions focused on participants' perceptions of the genetic counseling field prior to applying, important factors in choosing and ranking programs, decisions surrounding disclosure of LGBTQIA+ identities, interview experiences related to their identities, and the impacts, if any, of their identities on their overall admissions journey. Transcripts were coded and analyzed utilizing a constructivist grounded theory approach, resulting in the emergence of themes regarding factors that influenced participants' decisions to disclose their identity and how their LGBTQIA+ identity factored into their selection of a training program. This study adds new perspectives to the conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion within the genetic counseling field. Further, it provides genetic counselors and genetic counseling programs insight into inclusive admissions processes and suggests ways to improve inclusivity in graduate admissions.
研究表明，女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别者、酷儿、双性人、无性恋者及其他性取向和性别少数群体（LGBTQIA+）的医学生在录取和培训期间会遭受歧视。虽然有几项研究考察了遗传咨询领域中少数种族和族裔群体的经历，但LGBTQIA+个体的录取经历尚未得到探讨。通过半结构化访谈，这项定性研究调查了十位LGBTQIA+遗传咨询师和遗传咨询专业学生在研究生入学期间的经历。访谈问题集中在参与者申请前对遗传咨询领域的看法、选择和排名项目的重要因素、围绕LGBTQIA+身份披露的决定、与他们身份相关的面试经历，以及他们的身份对整个录取过程的影响（如有）。利用建构主义扎根理论方法对访谈记录进行编码和分析，得出了有关影响参与者披露身份决定的因素以及他们的LGBTQIA+身份如何影响其培训项目选择的主题。这项研究为遗传咨询领域围绕多样性、公平性和包容性的讨论增添了新的视角。此外，它为遗传咨询师和遗传咨询项目提供了有关包容性录取过程的见解，并提出了改善研究生录取包容性的方法。
