CHSU Discovery

Cultural competency is a multifaceted topic that affects the quality of healthcare for
many patients, especially in regard to the LGBTQIA+ community. Providing LGBTQIA+
education in graduate health care programs, like medical schools, can improve the
quality of care for this population. For graduate students lacking knowledge about the
LBGTQIA+ community, interventional trainings have been shown to improve cultural
competency pertaining to this population. Although these results are promising, more
comprehensive and long-term studies are needed to assess the impact of LGBTQIA+
education on healthcare professionals. In order to evaluate this, our study focuses on
the impact an interventional education session will have on the cultural knowledge of
employees at Golden Valley Health Centers. Prior to the session, individuals will take an
assessment that will evaluate aspects of cultural competency surrounding the
LGBTQIA+ community, specifically history, terminology, and implementation of
acceptance in the clinic. Participants will then attend a presentation on the topic tested
in the survey. After the session, participants will retake the survey, and the results will be
analyzed using a paired T-test to compare the outcomes between the pre-survey and
post-survey. Scores are anticipated to increase significantly after the interventional
education session. By having a better understanding of the community, we hope to see
better healthcare provided to LGBTQIA+ patients, resulting in more favorable patient
outcomes.