The discrimination of LGBT patients in the healthcare system remains an insufficiently addressed issue. Research carried out by the Office of the Ombudsman proves that nearly 30% of LGBT patients experienced unequal treatment by medical staff. The source of the problem lies in the absence of sexual orientation- and gender identity-related issues in the system of training physicians, as proven by the fact that LGBT patients frequently encounter prejudice, negative comments and unequal treatment in healthcare services access.
The project purpose was to reduce the scale of LGBT patient discrimination by educating medical staff, future and current. Long-term intentions include system-level change by making sexual orientation- and gender identity-related issues part of medical schools’ curriculum.
“LGBT Health” (the first book of guidelines for medical staff) was published and distributed; related knowledge was improved in case of 283 medical students.
The project kicked off with a seminar providing healthcare sector decision-makers with information on the issue of unequal LGBT patient treatment. A strategic analysis of the medical schooling system in Poland proved that curricula do not meet the requirements of teaching about either LGBT patient health or non-discriminative doctor-patient contact.
An Expert Working Group was formed to draft programme assumptions for pilot training evolutions and a theory-and-practice publication. A series of pilot training courses for 28 participants was delivered in co-operation with three medical schools, training curricula duly tested. The project closed with a conference, crucial Polish healthcare actors attending (Patients Ombudsman, Ministry of Health, medical self-governing bodies).
Beneficiaries included 283 medical students (training participants) and 130 seminar and conference attendants.
Partners were responsible for project results promotion and current topical support.