Nursing students' comfort with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) patient care: The role of self-efficacy and socio-demographic factors

Abstract

Background: Providing high-quality and culturally competent care to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) patients is essential in nursing. However, there are still reports of challenges in feeling comfortable and confident in delivering care to this population. Understanding the factors influencing nursing students' comfort levels in caring for LGBTpatients, such as self-efficacy and socio-demographic variables, is crucial for nursing education and practice. This study assessed the association of socio-demographic factors and self-efficacy with senior nursing students' comfort levels when providing care to LGBTpatients. Methods: This study employed a quantitative, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional survey design. Atotal of 179 out of 186 nursing students from two selected universities in the Philippines participated in the online survey conducted between April and May 2023. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising three sections. Descriptive statistics, along with the Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's rho, and Kruskal-Wallis test, were used for data analysis. Results: The study demonstrated that senior nursing students were highly comfortable caring for LGBTpatients. There were significant differences in the comfort levels based on the type of university, gender identity, sexual orientation, religiosity, and presence of LGBTfamily member/s. There was a significant, moderately positive correlation between the self-efficacy and comfort levels of senior nursing students caring for LGBTpatients. Conclusion:Nursing education programs should actively enhance students' self-efficacy in providing care to LGBTpatients, fostering greater comfort and competence in delivering culturally responsive and inclusive healthcare.