Gay affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain: results of Health Exclusion Research in Europe (HERE) study
IntroductionHealthcare professionals play a critical role in providing affirmative care to gay and lesbian patients. However, their attitudes and practices can vary significantly depending on cultural and educational contexts. This study aimed to evaluate differences in affirmative practices among h...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1568486/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849710885411487744 |
|---|---|
| author | Piotr Karniej Piotr Karniej Anthony Dissen Pablo del Pozo-Herce Raúl Juárez-Vela Antonio Martínez-Sabater Antonio Martínez-Sabater Antonio Martínez-Sabater Vicente Gea-Caballero Emmanuel Echaniz-Serrano Iván Santolalla-Arnedo Michał Czapla Michał Czapla Michał Czapla |
| author_facet | Piotr Karniej Piotr Karniej Anthony Dissen Pablo del Pozo-Herce Raúl Juárez-Vela Antonio Martínez-Sabater Antonio Martínez-Sabater Antonio Martínez-Sabater Vicente Gea-Caballero Emmanuel Echaniz-Serrano Iván Santolalla-Arnedo Michał Czapla Michał Czapla Michał Czapla |
| author_sort | Piotr Karniej |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionHealthcare professionals play a critical role in providing affirmative care to gay and lesbian patients. However, their attitudes and practices can vary significantly depending on cultural and educational contexts. This study aimed to evaluate differences in affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain, focusing on their approach to these patient groups, utilizing the Gay Affirmative Practice (GAP) Scale, as well as identifying key factors influencing these practices.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain using the GAP Scale, which assesses beliefs and behaviors toward gay and lesbian patients. Data collection included 495 participants, with 205 from Spain and 290 from Poland. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney tests, and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with affirmative practices.ResultsSpanish participants scored significantly higher on both the beliefs and behaviors scales compared to Polish participants (p < 0.001 and p = 0.009, respectively). Gender of healthcare providers was a significant factor in both groups, with women demonstrating more affirmative beliefs than men. In the Polish group, being male was associated with a decrease in the belief scale score by an average of 6.572 points (regression coefficient = −6.572, p < 0.001), while attending LGBT-related training 1–2 times was associated with an increase of 5.356 points on the belief scale (regression coefficient = 5.356, p = 0.039). No significant independent predictors were identified for behaviors in the Polish group, as all p-values exceeded 0.05.ConclusionSpanish healthcare professionals showed more affirmative practices toward gay and lesbian patients than their Polish counterparts. Sex and gay and lesbian related training influenced beliefs, with male sex linked to lower affirmative practice in Poland. These findings highlight the need for systematic integration of gay and lesbian specific training into healthcare education programs to foster cultural competence and reduce disparities in patient care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e27dfc9614e4ac9b0cc4d77ce60785c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e27dfc9614e4ac9b0cc4d77ce60785c2025-08-20T03:14:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15684861568486Gay affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain: results of Health Exclusion Research in Europe (HERE) studyPiotr Karniej0Piotr Karniej1Anthony Dissen2Pablo del Pozo-Herce3Raúl Juárez-Vela4Antonio Martínez-Sabater5Antonio Martínez-Sabater6Antonio Martínez-Sabater7Vicente Gea-Caballero8Emmanuel Echaniz-Serrano9Iván Santolalla-Arnedo10Michał Czapla11Michał Czapla12Michał Czapla13Faculty of Finance and Management, WSB MERITO University in Wroclaw, Wrocław, PolandGroup of Research in Care and Health (GRUPAC), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of La Rioja, Logroño, SpainSchool of Health Sciences, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ, United StatesResearch Group on Innovation in Health Care and Nursing Education (INcUidE), University of UNIE, Madrid, SpainGroup of Research in Care and Health (GRUPAC), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of La Rioja, Logroño, SpainGroup of Research in Care and Health (GRUPAC), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of La Rioja, Logroño, SpainNursing Care and Education Research Group (GRIECE), GIUV2019-456, Nursing Department, University of Valencia, Valencia, SpainCare Research Group (INCLIVA), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, SpainFaculty of Health Sciences, Research Group Community Health and Care, International University of Valencia, Valencia, SpainSapienf (B53_23R) Research Group, Department of Physiatry and Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, SpainGroup of Research in Care and Health (GRUPAC), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of La Rioja, Logroño, SpainGroup of Research in Care and Health (GRUPAC), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of La Rioja, Logroño, SpainDivision of Scientific Research and Innovation in Emergency Medical Service, Department of Emergency Medical Service, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland0Institute of Heart Diseases, University Hospital, Wroclaw, PolandIntroductionHealthcare professionals play a critical role in providing affirmative care to gay and lesbian patients. However, their attitudes and practices can vary significantly depending on cultural and educational contexts. This study aimed to evaluate differences in affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain, focusing on their approach to these patient groups, utilizing the Gay Affirmative Practice (GAP) Scale, as well as identifying key factors influencing these practices.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain using the GAP Scale, which assesses beliefs and behaviors toward gay and lesbian patients. Data collection included 495 participants, with 205 from Spain and 290 from Poland. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney tests, and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with affirmative practices.ResultsSpanish participants scored significantly higher on both the beliefs and behaviors scales compared to Polish participants (p < 0.001 and p = 0.009, respectively). Gender of healthcare providers was a significant factor in both groups, with women demonstrating more affirmative beliefs than men. In the Polish group, being male was associated with a decrease in the belief scale score by an average of 6.572 points (regression coefficient = −6.572, p < 0.001), while attending LGBT-related training 1–2 times was associated with an increase of 5.356 points on the belief scale (regression coefficient = 5.356, p = 0.039). No significant independent predictors were identified for behaviors in the Polish group, as all p-values exceeded 0.05.ConclusionSpanish healthcare professionals showed more affirmative practices toward gay and lesbian patients than their Polish counterparts. Sex and gay and lesbian related training influenced beliefs, with male sex linked to lower affirmative practice in Poland. These findings highlight the need for systematic integration of gay and lesbian specific training into healthcare education programs to foster cultural competence and reduce disparities in patient care.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1568486/fullhealthcare professionalsLGBTQ+ healthaffirmative practicecultural competencyattitude of health personnel |
| spellingShingle | Piotr Karniej Piotr Karniej Anthony Dissen Pablo del Pozo-Herce Raúl Juárez-Vela Antonio Martínez-Sabater Antonio Martínez-Sabater Antonio Martínez-Sabater Vicente Gea-Caballero Emmanuel Echaniz-Serrano Iván Santolalla-Arnedo Michał Czapla Michał Czapla Michał Czapla Gay affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain: results of Health Exclusion Research in Europe (HERE) study Frontiers in Public Health healthcare professionals LGBTQ+ health affirmative practice cultural competency attitude of health personnel |
| title | Gay affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain: results of Health Exclusion Research in Europe (HERE) study |
| title_full | Gay affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain: results of Health Exclusion Research in Europe (HERE) study |
| title_fullStr | Gay affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain: results of Health Exclusion Research in Europe (HERE) study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gay affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain: results of Health Exclusion Research in Europe (HERE) study |
| title_short | Gay affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in Poland and Spain: results of Health Exclusion Research in Europe (HERE) study |
| title_sort | gay affirmative practices among healthcare professionals in poland and spain results of health exclusion research in europe here study |
| topic | healthcare professionals LGBTQ+ health affirmative practice cultural competency attitude of health personnel |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1568486/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT piotrkarniej gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT piotrkarniej gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT anthonydissen gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT pablodelpozoherce gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT rauljuarezvela gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT antoniomartinezsabater gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT antoniomartinezsabater gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT antoniomartinezsabater gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT vicentegeacaballero gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT emmanuelechanizserrano gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT ivansantolallaarnedo gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT michałczapla gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT michałczapla gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy AT michałczapla gayaffirmativepracticesamonghealthcareprofessionalsinpolandandspainresultsofhealthexclusionresearchineuropeherestudy |