Does one have to be queer to care for queer patients? A qualitative interview study with general practitioners in Germany
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: LGBT* (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, others) individuals are known to experience poorer health and restricted access to healthcare compared to cisgender-heterosexual individuals. OBJECTIVE: As General Practitioners (GPs) are a patient's first point of contact with the healthcare system in Germany, this study examines GPs' perspectives on LGBT healthcare. METHODS: In this qualitative study, we conducted 19 semi-structured episodic interviews with GPs in urban and rural areas of Germany. The interviews were analysed using framework analysis. RESULTS: Our study shows LGBT* doctors feel more responsible for LGBT* healthcare than their cis-heterosexual colleagues. There is a perceived lack of knowledge and learning opportunities on LGBT* health needs for most interviewees. Cis-heterosexual GPs often feel unprepared to provide specific healthcare interventions to LGBT* patients and believe they lack the resources to improve their education on the topic. LGBT*-specific primary healthcare seems to be delivered by a small number of GP practices and primarily by LGBT* doctors. These LGBT* doctors recommend more widespread knowledge of LGBT* primary care and lives, to allow their colleagues to provide better care for these patients. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of knowledge on LGBT health needs and challenges among GPs in Germany, which needs to be addressed through structured training in medical school, and on a postgraduate level. This lack of knowledge leads to cis-heterosexual GPs feeling more insecure in providing care to LGBT* patients and LGBT* GPs providing a bigger share of LGBT* healthcare than their cis-heterosexual colleagues.
Institution: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,563
OpenAlex ID: W4415445012